Earth's Climate Reverses to Prehistoric Times

 

Climate change caused by global warming is on the brink of disaster. Experts warn that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will soon be higher than at any time in human history over the past 3.3 million years.

According to experts, the level of CO2 in the atmosphere by 2025 could roll back humanity to ancient times, when the planet was much hotter - in the Pliocene. The Earth was then hotter than it is today, with higher sea levels and smaller ice caps. During the warmest period, CO2 levels in the Pliocene were estimated to be between 380 and 420 ppm.

According to the US space agency NASA, CO2 measurements taken in May 2020 show that the carbon dioxide content in the Earth's atmosphere is already 414 parts per million, and this is not the limit - it is rapidly increasing.

Currently, our carbon dioxide levels are skyrocketing and growing at about 2.5 ppm per year.

This means that by 2025 we will return the Earth's climate to the epoch of 3.3 million years, "said climatologist Thomas Chock.

While natural events such as volcanic eruptions can increase carbon dioxide levels, most greenhouse gases are associated with emissions from human activities. In particular, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation make a big contribution. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which means that it traps heat from the Sun from going out into space after it reaches our planet, increasing its heat.

According to the researchers, when the planet's CO2 levels are similar to the Pliocene and will rise further, the Earth will heat up more and will be thrown 15 million years ago. This level of carbon dioxide has not been seen since the climatic optimum of the middle Miocene, when the planet was even warmer than in the Pliocene.