There's a lot of information about global warming out there, and conflicting sources can make you think a variety of things. Various websites, periodicals, and books can offer completely different global warming facts. The following list is a compilation of 10 scary global warming fast facts that will truly amaze and astound you.
Alarming Global Warming Fast
Facts That Will Amaze You
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Every single day, 70 million tons of carbon dioxide are released into our world's atmosphere.[1] That's 1.4 billion pounds - yesterday, today, tomorrow, and every single day.
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The warmest years on record have been in the past 10 out of 12 years. Since record-keeping began in 1880, the planet's 10 hottest years were all in your lifetime, between 1997 and 2008.[2] (So yes, it probably did snow more when you were a kid.)
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2008 saw the second-lowest summer Arctic sea ice ever recorded since satellites began keeping track in 1979, at 1.74 million square miles.[3]
This is 860,000 square miles below the average minimum seen in the
summers from 1979 to 2000. (Summer 2007 saw the lowest levels ever
recorded, at 1.65 million square miles).
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Ships for the first time can sail along the Northwest Passage
above North America. Once a fabled passageway, melting Arctic ice from
global warming has let this route become a reality for the first time
in over 100 years.
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Arctic summers could be ice-free by 2040 or sooner, decades ahead of previous estimates.[4] As this ice "mirror" that reflects sunlight back into space disappears, the effects of global warming will increase as the oceans absorb more of the sun's heat. This melting ice will cause polar bears and other species to lose their icy habitat and eventually become extinct.
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82% of glaciers have disappeared in Glacier National Park, Montana. Today this beautiful park has only 27 glaciers, compared with 150 in 1910.[5]
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500,000 cubic miles of ice would be lost if either of the rapidly melting ice sheets in Greenland or Antarctica completely melted.[6] Dumping
this much freshwater into the ocean would be catastrophic not only to
low-lying areas, but it would also mess up the ocean's complicated currents.
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20 million tons of ice per day are lost by only one
of the glaciers in Greenland. The ice melting from Greenland's glaciers
has more than doubled over the past decade, adding to the dangerous rise in sea levels. For those living in New York City - this amount lost per day is equal to the amount of water you and your Big Apple neighbors use for an entire year.[7]
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Over a hundred million people will be displaced by just a 1-yard rise in sea levels.[5]
Many scientists predict that the oceans will rise at least this much by
2100. As more and more freshwater melts into the sea, this could
greatly disrupt the ocean's vital currents and, ironically, even bring a mini-Ice Age to Europe.
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Sea levels will rise by 20 feet if either the Greenland or West Antarctic Ice Sheets completely melt - 40 feet if both melt.[6] Maps as you know them would be completely changed, as this would flood much of Florida, Louisiana, Manhattan, China, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and many more areas.
How Can You Prevent
The Worst From Happening?
While these 10 global warming facts are undeniable, there are still many things you can do to work toward preventing global warming.
At this time in our planet's history, we must come together like never
before and work toward taking steps to lessen the effects of global
warming. Find out how.
