aardopwarming

Aardopwarming, 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.

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. Natural climate variations do occur, but they are not sufficient to explain the magnitude and rate of warming observed in recent decades.

The primary driver of current aardopwarming is the increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, preventing it from radiating back into space, a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, transportation, and industrial processes is the largest source of these emissions. Deforestation also contributes, as trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

The consequences of aardopwarming are far-reaching and include rising sea levels, more frequent and intense heatwaves, changes in precipitation patterns leading to droughts and floods, ocean acidification, and impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. These changes pose significant challenges to human societies and the natural world.