Ilmastonkään

Ilmastonkäänne refers to significant and potentially irreversible shifts in global climate patterns. These changes are primarily driven by increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, largely due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The term suggests a turning point beyond which the climate system may enter a new, less predictable state.

The consequences of ilmastonkäänne are far-reaching and include rising global temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, more frequent and intense extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms. These shifts can lead to sea-level rise, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to ecosystems and human societies. The potential for abrupt and dramatic climate changes, rather than gradual ones, is a key concern associated with this concept.

Scientific research indicates that crossing certain thresholds, often referred to as tipping points, could trigger these rapid and substantial climate shifts. Examples of potential tipping points include the melting of major ice sheets, the collapse of ocean currents, or the dieback of large forest areas. Understanding and mitigating the factors contributing to ilmastonkäänne is a critical global challenge, requiring international cooperation and substantial efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changes already underway.