9 tipping points: points of no return for climate<\/h2>\n![\"climate](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/Climate-tipping-points.png\")
Climate tipping points, ph. via Wikimedia, authors: CodeOne (blank map), DeWikiMan (additional elements)<\/div><\/div>\nThese points of no return are climatic hotspots, and they are important for the balance of the climate on Earth.<\/p>\n
The planet has already reached 9 tipping points<\/strong>, but they have not yet been exceeded. These 9 points of no return are:<\/p>\n\n- the melting of arctic ice<\/li>\n
- the ice cup of Greenland<\/li>\n
- the boreal forest<\/li>\n
- the permafrost<\/li>\n
- Southern inversion of Atlantic circulation<\/li>\n
- deforestation of the Amazon forest<\/li>\n
- the loss of corals<\/li>\n
- the antarctic ice cup<\/li>\n
- the basin of Wilkes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The melting of Arctic ice<\/h2>\n
The thaw of Arctic ice<\/a> is already a reality that we must face.\u00a0With an increase of 2\u00b0C<\/strong> of the earth\u2019s temperature, there is a probability between 10 and 35% that the Arctic region will remain without ice during the summer season.\u00a0If this happened, it would lead to an immediate rise in tides.<\/p>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/arctic-ice.jpg\")
photo by Alto Crew; on Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\nThe ice cap of Greenland<\/h2>\n
With steady speed, Greenland\u2019s ice cap is melting and could add 7 meters<\/strong> to sea level in the next thousand years.\u00a0The melting of the ice cap would expose the surface to warmer air.\u00a0 If temperatures rose by 1.5\u00b0C, the ice cap could dissolve by 2030.<\/p>\nThe boreal forest<\/h2>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/the-boreal-forests.jpg\")
Boreal forest in the Canadian tundra; photo by Banter Snaps; on Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\nThe boreal forest in the sub-Arctic region, one of the main terrestrial biomes, becomes increasingly vulnerable<\/strong> every year that passes.\u00a0Coniferous forests in North America and the Siberian region account for one-third<\/strong> of the world\u2019s forests. Nowadays, global warming has triggered a series of disturbances in insect populations. Also, it has caused an increase in the fires that devastate North America. However, the most tragic aspect is that the devastation of the boreal forests turns oxygen deposits into CO2 sources<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe permafrost<\/h2>\n
Permafrost<\/a> is a soil typical of the regions of the extreme North Europe, Siberia and North America where the soil is perennially frozen.\u00a0This type of soil belongs to the tundra regions<\/strong> and is typical of very rigid climates and very low temperatures.\u00a0It is a very important biome, whose vegetation is reduced to only mosses and lichens.\u00a0Because of global warming, the permafrost in the Arctic region is beginning to thaw.\u00a0This involves the release of CO2<\/strong> and methane into the atmosphere, greenhouse gases responsible for global warming<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"tipping](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/Field_work_Suorooaivi-870x490.jpg\")
Photo by: Monteuxs; on Wikimedia<\/div><\/div>\nSouthern inversion of Atlantic circulation<\/h2>\n
The southern inversion of the Atlantic circulation, abbreviated AMOC<\/strong>, is an important ocean current<\/strong> of the Atlantic Ocean. On one side, this current is characterized by a northward flow of warm saltwater in the surface layers of the Atlantic Ocean. On the other side, by a flow in the south direction of cold water in depth. So AMOC is an important component of our planet\u2019s climate system.<\/p>\nThe rapid melting of the ice cap in Greenland and a further slowdown of the AMOC could destabilize the monsoon of West Africa. This would lead to an increase in drought<\/strong> in the Sahel region of Africa.<\/p>\n![\"Southern](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/Senegal.jpg\")
Senegal; photo by: aliunix; on: Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\nDeforestation of the Amazon Forest<\/h2>\n
Deforestation and climate change are destabilizing the Amazon forest, the largest rainforest in the world.\u00a0Estimates on the point of no return of the Amazon range between 20 and 40% of loss of forest cover. About 17% has been lost since 1970.<\/p>\n
![\"deforestation](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/deforestation.jpg\")
Photo by Sergio Torres on Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\nThe loss of corals<\/h2>\n
Global warming and water acidification have led to a massive whitening of corals<\/strong>. Also, it has led to the loss of more than half of corals<\/a> in the shallow waters of the Australian Great Barrier. If the average global temperature increased by 2\u00b0C, the result would be the loss of almost all corals. This would represent a serious loss of marine biodiversity<\/strong> because corals are central to the balance of marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/the-loss-of-corals.jpg\")
Photo by SGR on Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\nThe Antarctic ice cap<\/h2>\n
Researchers have shown that the Western Antarctic Sea may have crossed the point of no return. The area where ice, ocean and rock meet is retreating irreversibly.\u00a0When this \u201cline of encounter\u201d finally collapses<\/strong>, it could destabilize the rest of the Antarctic ice cap.\u00a0With a domino effect, it could lead to a sea-level rise of about 3 meters high.<\/strong>\u00a0This change would not be instantaneous, but it would apply over a hundred years.<\/p>\n
These points of no return are climatic hotspots, and they are important for the balance of the climate on Earth.<\/p>\n
The planet has already reached 9 tipping points<\/strong>, but they have not yet been exceeded. These 9 points of no return are:<\/p>\n The thaw of Arctic ice<\/a> is already a reality that we must face.\u00a0With an increase of 2\u00b0C<\/strong> of the earth\u2019s temperature, there is a probability between 10 and 35% that the Arctic region will remain without ice during the summer season.\u00a0If this happened, it would lead to an immediate rise in tides.<\/p>\n With steady speed, Greenland\u2019s ice cap is melting and could add 7 meters<\/strong> to sea level in the next thousand years.\u00a0The melting of the ice cap would expose the surface to warmer air.\u00a0 If temperatures rose by 1.5\u00b0C, the ice cap could dissolve by 2030.<\/p>\n The boreal forest in the sub-Arctic region, one of the main terrestrial biomes, becomes increasingly vulnerable<\/strong> every year that passes.\u00a0Coniferous forests in North America and the Siberian region account for one-third<\/strong> of the world\u2019s forests. Nowadays, global warming has triggered a series of disturbances in insect populations. Also, it has caused an increase in the fires that devastate North America. However, the most tragic aspect is that the devastation of the boreal forests turns oxygen deposits into CO2 sources<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Permafrost<\/a> is a soil typical of the regions of the extreme North Europe, Siberia and North America where the soil is perennially frozen.\u00a0This type of soil belongs to the tundra regions<\/strong> and is typical of very rigid climates and very low temperatures.\u00a0It is a very important biome, whose vegetation is reduced to only mosses and lichens.\u00a0Because of global warming, the permafrost in the Arctic region is beginning to thaw.\u00a0This involves the release of CO2<\/strong> and methane into the atmosphere, greenhouse gases responsible for global warming<\/a>.<\/p>\n The southern inversion of the Atlantic circulation, abbreviated AMOC<\/strong>, is an important ocean current<\/strong> of the Atlantic Ocean. On one side, this current is characterized by a northward flow of warm saltwater in the surface layers of the Atlantic Ocean. On the other side, by a flow in the south direction of cold water in depth. So AMOC is an important component of our planet\u2019s climate system.<\/p>\n The rapid melting of the ice cap in Greenland and a further slowdown of the AMOC could destabilize the monsoon of West Africa. This would lead to an increase in drought<\/strong> in the Sahel region of Africa.<\/p>\n Deforestation and climate change are destabilizing the Amazon forest, the largest rainforest in the world.\u00a0Estimates on the point of no return of the Amazon range between 20 and 40% of loss of forest cover. About 17% has been lost since 1970.<\/p>\n Global warming and water acidification have led to a massive whitening of corals<\/strong>. Also, it has led to the loss of more than half of corals<\/a> in the shallow waters of the Australian Great Barrier. If the average global temperature increased by 2\u00b0C, the result would be the loss of almost all corals. This would represent a serious loss of marine biodiversity<\/strong> because corals are central to the balance of marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n Researchers have shown that the Western Antarctic Sea may have crossed the point of no return. The area where ice, ocean and rock meet is retreating irreversibly.\u00a0When this \u201cline of encounter\u201d finally collapses<\/strong>, it could destabilize the rest of the Antarctic ice cap.\u00a0With a domino effect, it could lead to a sea-level rise of about 3 meters high.<\/strong>\u00a0This change would not be instantaneous, but it would apply over a hundred years.<\/p>\n\n
The melting of Arctic ice<\/h2>\n
The ice cap of Greenland<\/h2>\n
The boreal forest<\/h2>\n
The permafrost<\/h2>\n
Southern inversion of Atlantic circulation<\/h2>\n
Deforestation of the Amazon Forest<\/h2>\n
The loss of corals<\/h2>\n
The Antarctic ice cap<\/h2>\n
![\"tipping](\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/the-antartic-ice-cup-800x490.jpg\")