King Rhan Cabo 10-

Divinity

3rd Performance Task in Health 10

Topic: Climate Change

 February on course to break unprecedented number of heat records

Rapid ocean warming and unusually hot winter days recorded as
human-made global heating combines with El Niño
February is on course to break a record number of heat records,
meteorologists say, as human-made global heating and the natural El
Niño climate pattern drive up temperatures on land and oceans
around the world.

A little over halfway into the shortest month of the year, the heating
spike has become so pronounced that climate charts are entering
new territory, particularly for sea-surface temperatures that have
persisted and accelerated to the point where expert observers are
struggling to explain how the change is happening.

“The planet is warming at an accelerating rate. We are seeing rapid

temperature increases in the ocean, the climate’s largest reservoir of
heat,” said Dr Joel Hirschi, the associate head of marine systems
modelling at the UK National Oceanography Centre. “The amplitude
by which previous sea surface temperatures records were beaten in
2023 and now 2024 exceed expectations, though understanding why
this is, is the subject of ongoing research.”

 The bad climate news keeps coming: A new study adds to the
evidence that the Atlantic Ocean’s critical system of currents will
eventually collapse in response to melting ice sheets in Greenland
 (thanks, global warming). These currents shuttle water—and along
with the water, heat—between the poles, influencing climate around
the world. It would be a pretty big problem if the system, called the
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (or AMOC for short),
stopped working.
 Communities in the tropical north are losing residents as these
regions become hotter and more humid. Repeated floods have
communities along the east coast questioning their future. Others
face rising bushfire risks that force them to weigh up the difficult
decision to move home.

However, the decision-making process and relocation opportunities

are not the same for everyone. Factors such as socio-economic
disadvantage and how we are attached to a place influence decisions
to move or stay, where people go and how they experience their new
location.

Our research, working with other researchers at Edith Cowan

University's Center for People, Place & Planet and Curtin University,
seeks to document when and why people stay or go, and what this
means for places and communities. In particular, our research
suggests who is more likely to go may leave those who remain even
more vulnerable.

Solutions:

 Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Efforts must be intensified to

reduce human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, primarily
stemming from fossil fuel combustion. This involves implementing
and strengthening policies that promote the use of renewable energy
sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
 International Cooperation: Strengthening global cooperation is
essential to address climate change collectively. Nations should work
together to meet emission reduction targets, share knowledge, and
allocate resources to address the global challenge of climate change.

 Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems: Preserving and restoring

natural ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands, is critical. These
ecosystems play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide and
regulating temperatures. Sustainable land management practices
must be implemented to prevent deforestation and land
degradation.