Our fragile planet has been through seven ice ages at it circled the sun over the past 650,000 years. Climatologists believe transient global temperature rise and fall attributes to very small changes in Earth’s orbit. This reminds us how vulnerable we are traveling in space, and perhaps alone.
Earth warmed gradually as the last great ice sheets retreated 7,000 years ago. Then, in the mid-19th century there was a sharp uptick in global temperature. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to increased industrial activity with 95% probability. Moreover, “This scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” warns the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Global Temperature Rise Was Even Faster Since Mid-20th Century
Eastern and Western Europe entered a period of economic recovery as soon as World War II ended. Vast amounts of the wonder building material concrete poured out, as foundries went into overdrive to produce reinforcing rods.
Successive industrial revolutions delivered increasing quantities of cars and appliances to liberated consumers. Then, indigenous people in Africa and South America began demanding the same benefits.
Wave upon wave of anti-colonial revolutions followed until the old order was over, and the global population was, at least in principle, free. Burgeoning populations flocked to the cities. Unfortunately, no one was aware of the consequences for the global temperature rise occurring while we slept.
How NASA Scientists Have Been Quietly Collecting Evidence
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has the privileged position of being able to gaze down on earth from space.
NASA has collected many different types of information about our planet, and its climate on a global scale. Their data confirms that, “There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to warm in response.”
Ancient ice cores from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers confirm this has been happening for millennia. However, the current global temperature rise is “roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice-age-recovery warming.”
Related:
How Deforestation Started Climate Change
How Colonialism Accelerated Climate Change
Preview Image: Historic Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere