Today, our world is under serious threat from a variety of natural phenomena and the growing climate crisis. Phenomena such as heat waves, rising sea surface temperature and vital ocean currents emphasise our carbon footprint, while at the same time affecting our natural world.
Heatwaves and Rising Sea Surface Temperature in Mediterranean Waters:
Increasing forest fires and severe storms in the Mediterranean region in recent days point to a disturbance of the natural balance. The rise in temperatures in Sicily to 47°C caused serious environmental problems and led to the closure of Palermo airport. In addition, heat waves in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea have reached their highest recorded temperature, posing a major threat to the environment and marine ecosystems. This is also causing losses for seafood industries and leading to mass mortality of species.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) and the Danger of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream System:
Scientists predict that the Amoc is weakening due to global warming and could collapse as early as 2025. The collapse of the Amoc system would bring catastrophic climate impacts and lead to significant changes across the globe. Similar collapses in the past have caused global temperature changes of up to 10°C within a few decades.
Carbon Footprint and the Climate Crisis:
The carbon footprint is one of the main drivers of global warming, with human activities releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Factors such as the widespread use of fossil fuels, deforestation and industrialisation cause our carbon footprint to grow. While the climate crisis manifests itself with negative effects such as increasing temperature, frequency and severity of natural disasters, it is aimed to reduce these effects with the use of environmentally friendly technologies and green energy sources.
Conclusion:
The heat waves experienced by our natural world, the rise in sea surface temperature and the dangers that may lead to a climate crisis are important issues that emphasise our carbon footprint. This situation reminds us once again of our responsibility to protect our natural resources and leave a livable world to future generations by seeking more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions as a society. Our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint will be an important step in the fight against climate change. We all have a role to play in this important issue that shapes our future.