Understanding Global Warming and Climate Dynamics A house metaphor clarifies that global warming elevates overall temperatures while climate change reshapes weather patterns over decades. Carbon emissions since the mid-20th century have amplified the greenhouse effect, driving an average rise of 1.1°C. Human activities have accelerated natural climatic shifts, marking a departure from the slow pace of historic change.
Rapid Melting, Rising Seas, and Escalating Weather Extremes Warming initiates a cascade where melting ice exposes darker surfaces that absorb even more heat, further accelerating ice loss and expanding ocean volumes. Increasing sea levels and altered rainfall patterns trigger extreme weather events, from droughts to flash floods, disrupting agriculture and local economies. Global efforts aim to cap warming at 1.5°C, emphasizing the critical need for proactive climate action.