Climate Change Facts

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to millions of years).  Climate change is caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions. Certain human activities have also been identified as significant causes of recent climate change, often referred to as "global warming". 

Look at the pictures below  stating few facts about climate change: 

At the end of the last ice age, when the Northeast United States was covered by more than 3,000 feet of ice, average temperatures were only 5 to 9 degrees cooler than today

The summer thickness of sea ice is about half of what it was in 1950. Melting ice may lead to changes in ocean circulation. Plus melting sea ice is speeding up warming in the Arctic.

Higher temperatures cause a higher rate of evaporation and more droughts in some areas of the world

Warmer temperatures have led to more intense rainfall events in some areas. This can cause flooding.

The Earth's average temperature has increased about 1 degree Fahrenheit during the 20th century

 Increased temperatures and extreme drought are causing a decline in crop productivity around the world.  Decreased crop productivity can mean food shortages which have many social implications.