part 3
Storyboard-Text
- It doesn't, you're right. But in terms of our planet, even a 1 degree change can mean a lot, because it takes an incredible amount of heat to affect the planet that much. As is, it has only taken a 1-2 degree drop to bring the Earth into an ice age.
- So... I guess we should be glad about the Earth's current warmth?
- That doesn't sound like too much, though.
- On the contrary, we should be very concerned. As I said before, too much of anything is a bad thing; as opposed to the LOME, we are currently facing global warming, but it is no less dangerous. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the Earth's global temperature has risen by 1 °celsius.
- What has a 1 degree increase done to Earth, then?
- Quite a few things. Remember when you were talking about the rapid extinction of species? A lot of that can be attributed to global warming, and the subsequent loss of many species' habitats. And that's not the only thing; the extreme heat reduces snow covers and sea ice, resulting in a rise in sea levels, as well as warmer oceans. In the past few decades, too, storms have worsened and droughts have increased— general weather patterns have been destroyed and the balance of nature has been disrupted, which affects all life on earth.
- It may almost be worse. When considering their similarities and differences between extinction events of the past and the current day, one thing becomes apparent; current day global warming is much more dangerous. The LOME did not cause major changes in the Earth’s ecosystems, with things going back to relatively normal during the first 5 million years of the Silurian period. However, it is unlikely that humans have that long, and our constant and negative impact on the Earth is only worsening our chances.
- That's just as bad as the Late Ordovician mass extinction!
- What's more is the way heat affects all living things. We, for example, are not built for such intense weather conditions. With heat waves and hotter days becoming commonplace - with 2020 being one of the warmest years on record - heat-stroke and other heat-related illnesses are more common. These manifest extreme symptoms, and can even result in death.
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