11 Fascinating Climate Change Facts That'll Blow Your Mind and Inspire Action
1. Water Wing Apocalypse
Hold on to your water wings, folks, because we're going for a swim—whether we like it or not: As glaciers and ice sheets melt due to global warming, we can expect sea levels to rise at least 10 feet in the coming centuries, placing 150 million people in port cities and a whopping $35 trillion worth of property in danger of coastal flooding by 2070.
Source => benjerry.com
2. Snow Machines & AI on Ski Slopes
As the hills are alive with the sound of…snow machines?: Climate change is pushing ski resorts to adapt with innovative tactics like artificial intelligence for analyzing weather patterns and predicting snowfall, as well as adopting sustainable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels for powering their snowmaking endeavors.
Source => daily.jstor.org
Did you know our Earth is like a giant ice cube floating in space, staying toasty at 15°C (59°F) thanks to greenhouse gases? But human actions are heating things up! Discover the consequences and more fun facts about greenhouse gases.
=> Fun Facts about Greenhouse-Gases
3. Singing in Climate-Changed Rain
If you're a fan of hosting umbrella duels and singing in the rain à la Gene Kelly, remember to thank climate change for adding a little extra zing to your next musical shower: As Earth's climate warms, the increase in heavy precipitation events, including both rainfall and snowstorms, can be attributed to a warmer and moister atmosphere, though natural climate variability also plays a role in individual occurrences.
Source => royalsociety.org
4. Uncle Sam's Billion-Dollar Disasters
As Uncle Sam tallies his billion-dollar calamities over a late-night game of Environmental Monopoly: the number of billion-dollar disasters in the United States is on the rise, with extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires causing significant damage to buildings, infrastructure, and agriculture—and climate change is expected to worsen their frequency and impact.
Source => c2es.org
5. Pollen-pocalypse & Unbalanced Ecosystems
Hold onto your tissues and brace for the pollen-pocalypse: Climate change is creating longer growing seasons that usher in earlier and lengthier allergy seasons, while also upsetting the delicate dance of pollinators, songbirds, and the species that depend on one another. So, not only will increased sneezing be the soundtrack of the future, but our plants may be more prone to frost damage when they bloom prematurely and start moonwalking away from a balanced ecosystem.
Source => climatechange.lta.org
6. Oceanfront Property Roulette
It seems like oceanfront real estate might not be such a "shore" investment after all: By 2050, an estimated 650,000 U.S. oceanfront properties could be kissing their sandy yards goodbye due to climate change-induced flooding, even going underwater during high tides. Most at risk are the four musketeers of Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina, who could face a combined 4.4 million-acre loss, making a splash not just on homeowners but on property tax-dependent public services too. So, remember, don't get tide down in risky investments and let's address climate change before it erodes our futures!
Source => foxweather.com
7. Waterworld: The Climate Change Sequel
Did somebody order their climate change with a side of dehydration?: Climate change is causing a real-life "Waterworld" situation where around two billion people face water scarcity due to rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns messing with the water cycle, leading to severe droughts and putting a strain on agriculture and food supplies, as freshwater is in high demand for irrigation purposes. So, let's toast to better water management and climate-savvy agriculture before we're all parched!
Source => un.org
8. Mongols & Green Invasion Souvenirs
Planning to invade another country? Mongols did it with style and left a green souvenir: Reforestation following historical events like the Mongol invasion and the conquest of the Americas absorbed as much CO2 from the atmosphere as we now produce annually from gasoline, showcasing the importance of tree-mendous land-use choices for fighting climate change.
Source => news.mongabay.com
9. Coral Reefs' Divorce Party
Coral reefs are throwing the ultimate underwater divorce party, evicting their algal roommates in a colorful spectacle: This mass eviction, known as coral bleaching, leads to the demise of many marine species, with reef recovery taking a staggering 10–15 years to bounce back.
Source => ipcc.ch
10. Cow-Powered Icebreakers
Who knew cows could be icebreakers? And we don't mean starting conversations at a party: Animal agriculture causes over 14% of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, massively contributing to global warming and the reduction of sea ice in the Arctic, endangering polar bear habitats and food sources.
Source => worldanimalprotection.us
11. Utah Ski Resorts: Adapt & Stay Frosty
As the world heats up, it seems Utah's ski slopes refuse to accept the phrase "ice to meet your meltdown!": Adaptation efforts in Utah's ski resorts have kept them going strong, generating $1.8 billion in economic activity and providing 5.1 million skier days during the 2018-2019 season, while implementing strategies like snowmaking and business diversification to stay frosty in the face of future warming.
Source => bioone.org