Global warming may become a wonderful opportunity to explore the fascinating inter-related processes that occur on Earth. The consequences of climate change will concern everyone – from bacteria to humans.
Here are six unbelievable effects of global warming and climate change on our planet.
1. Volcanic eruptions will become more frequent
Since the glaciers begin to melt, the amount of water in the oceans increases and the global sea level rises, the weight distribution of the earth’s crust is displaced from land to sea.
This shift may result in the fact that volcanoes will erupt become more frequently. This conclusion is confirmed by the recently discovered rock deposits, showing that in some periods of the history of the Earth frequent volcanic eruptions coincided with periods of glacier melting.
People of the 21-st century probably will not witness these changes, as the effect would be noticeable about 2500 years from now.
2. Oceans will darken
Climate change will lead to an increase in rainfall in some regions of the globe, making the rivers more affluent. Big rivers will carry the flow of silt and debris, which eventually will get into the ocean. Thus, the ocean will become less transparent.
In the coastal regions of Norway’s sea, the water has already become darker due to increased rainfall and heavy snowmelt in the last decade. Some researchers believe that the turbidity in the water is the cause of the changes in some ecosystems, for example, in recent years the population of jellyfish has increased.
3. Allergies will become more severe
Global warming will shift spring to the beginning of the year, which means that people who suffer from allergies will begin to sneeze and suffer from itchy fingers much earlier.
The annual increase in the total amount of pollen in the air can make allergies even more severe. According to some studies, the number of pollen is likely to double by 2040.
4. Sunlight will reach the seabed at the North Pole
As the sea ice melt, water in the shallow coastal areas near both poles will become noticeably lighter, in particular, the light can reach the seabed at the North Pole.
Deep-water worms, sponges, and other invertebrates that are accustomed to living in complete darkness will have to live and suffer the effects of sunlight.
Recent studies showed that climate changes can significantly alter the way of life of these colonies: in particular, algae and other marine plants will penetrate in the depth, which will reduce the population of invertebrates.
This has already been observed in the bays of the Atlantic and the Antarctic coasts, so that biodiversity in the Polar Regions may be significantly reduced.
5. The invasion of ants will slow down
The Pheidole megacephala, also known as big-headed ants, are one of the most dangerous invasive species on Earth. There are colonies of these insects in South America, Australia, and Africa, which multiply rapidly and spread to new areas.
As an invasive species, ants enter the habitat and capture the food resources of other animals. As far as it is known, the ants prey even on chicks of small birds.
But since the Earth’s temperature is increasing, these cold-blooded animals will spread more slowly and their natural habitat will be significantly reduced. Studies show that the percentage of territories occupied by these species will decrease by 2080 by about one fifth.
6. Decline of desert bacteria
The soil in the desert may seem uninhabitable, but in fact, it is teeming with bacteria: bacterial colonies spread all over the place there so that they form a solid layer that protects the soil from erosion.
Studies of this soil in the United States showed that different types of desert bacteria live and thrive under different temperature circumstances. Some prefer the exhausting heat of Arizona and New Mexico, and others live in the cool climate of Oregon and Utah.
As the temperature due to global warming has become more volatile, the desert bacteria have to adapt to it, and desert soil will become more susceptible to erosion as a result of their decline.
