Lämpöytyminen

Lämpöytyminen, also known as global warming, refers to the long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere. The term is frequently used interchangeably with the term climate change, though the latter refers to both human- and naturally produced warming and the effects it has on our planet. It is most commonly measured at the Earth's surface from instrumental observations of temperature, and in the field of climatology, "climate change" is now a standard term, while "global warming" is less often used.

The scientific consensus is that the Earth's climate system is unequivocally warming, and that it is extremely likely (95% probability) that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. The largest human impact on climate has been the emission of greenhouse gases. The consensus among climate scientists is that the Earth's rising temperatures are the result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities.

The consequences of global warming are far-reaching and include rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, and impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Addressing global warming involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions through transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing carbon capture technologies. International agreements and national policies aim to mitigate these effects and adapt to the changes already occurring.