An increasingly large amount of scientific research, published since the IPCC 4th Assessment Report was released in 2007, shows that climate change is occurring right now, and that it is much faster than predicted only two years ago.
The evidence for this statement is from a multitude of areas. Some of the regions currently undergoing change are shown below.
-Many physical systems, in widespread sites, are already showing evidence of global warming. Examples include the timing of plant flowering, animal breeding, and lake thawing.
-Increased ocean surface temperatures in Pacific & Atlantic hurricane-formation zones which will lead to stronger cyclones are definitely related to human-induced warming.
-Ocean acidification is occurring quickly, due to CO2 in massive amounts dissolving in salty water. This will have major impacts on marine ecosystems and subsequently food supplies for many countries.
-Probable sea-level rise over the next 100 years will be higher than that calculated in 2007. It will probably increase at least 100cm, based on newly released scientific studies.
-The accelerated melting of the ice sheet in Greenland that started in 2004 has been definitely linked to climate change.
-West Antarctica has melted at an accelerated rate since 1999 and has suffered 10 major ice shelf collapses since then. After an ice shelf collapses there is a rapid and marked acceleration of glacial flows, contributing to sea level increases.
-Arctic sea-ice is melting much faster than previously estimated, and it is almost certain that the Arctic will be ice-free in summer before 2080.
-Arctic Circle permafrost is thawing much faster than recently thought, and is liberating a lot more greenhouse gases than forecast.
The global warming that is now occurring is going to extend for multiple centuries even after all human-released greenhouse gas escape ceases. This is due to the significant inertia that exists in the climate and the delayed decay of carbon dioxide from within the environment.
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