Climate Clock
We, humans, have put ourselves in a problematic situation. The vicious circle of climate change threatens our existence. Many other species have gone extinct, while we are tending to catastrophic climate changes. Prolonged heating of the Earth’s surface due to greenhouse gases is called global warming. Global warming – caused by the burning of fossil fuels (that produces greenhouse gases) – results in floods, droughts, high temperatures, and a very unstable climate. Carbon dioxide – the most dangerous and prevalent greenhouse gas – are at the highest levels ever recorded. With the continuing output of such gases and increased trapping of heat, the climate is further damaged. This problem needs primary emphasis.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
By Karanveer Singh
If COVID-19 wasn’t much of an anxiety, the Climate Clock has become an additive to it. The clock began its countdown on September 19, 2020, being installed on the wall of a building on Street 14 in Manhattan. The countdown clock shows the time left until the climate will become unbearable, and the climate crisis will become absolutely irreversible. Adding to the anxiety, the time was mere 7 years and 98 days. This is a valid approximation because it is based on calculations by MCC Berlin. Designed by Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd, the clock reflects an ecologically-sensitive issue that is vital for the future of humans.
Global warming — a gradual heating of earth due to human activities — is provoking a rapid increase in temperature of Earth surface. The idea of global warming emanated in the late 19th century (with the start of industrialization). Since then, it has become worse. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, wildlife is scrambling, and forests are burning. These repercussions are arising as humans add greenhouse gases to the environment, trapping heat in the atmosphere, leading to gradual climate changes everywhere. This is called the greenhouse effect.
Image Source: Forbes, “New York City’s latest attraction”
The greenhouse effect is the warming of earth due to the trapping of certain gases in the atmosphere. As these gas molecules rise up, heat from the Sun gets locked up in the atmosphere. Therefore, the buildup of gas molecules continues to increase the heat in the atmosphere. Although the greenhouse effect is what makes earth warm and livable, since the 19th century, levels of greenhouse gases have increased, warming the earth at a significant rate. Humans interfering with the energy balance of the Earth can possibly lead us to a mass extinction.
Humans are adaptive to their surroundings. They have evolved according to deviations. But adapting to the currently, rapidly changing Earth will not be possible. Evolution to adapt towards these conditions may take up to a few generations and not enough time to adapt. Interestingly, some of the cases of evolution due to heating have been uncovered. Some species that have evolved in some way or the other are Canadian Squirrels, European Great Tits (a type of bird), and the Blackcaps (a type of bird), but all these are smaller species. The possibility of this concept applying to larger and further developed species is uncertain at this time. Further research on this subject may lead to some interesting results about the possibilities of adaptations. This still does not dismiss the need to manage climate change. Only the future will indicate what will happen considering climate change, but one thing is certain: proactive measures must be taken to preserve our world and the climate clock was an important aspect of that effort, reminding us of the time remaining to make amends.
Image Source: A Reference for Greenhouse Effect from a picture by climate.nasa.gov
References
A New york clock that tells the time remaining. Retrieved 6 October, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/arts/design/climate-clock-metronome-nyc.html
Are we in the 6th mass extinction? Retrieved 6 October, 2020 https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-biodiversity-experts-recognise-that-we-re-midst-a-mass-extinction
What is Global Warming, facts and information? Retrieved 6 October, 2020 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-overview/
What is Greenhouse Effect? Retrieved 6 October, 2020 https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/19/what-is-the-greenhouse-effect/#:~:text=The%20greenhouse%20effect%20is%20the,it%20would%20be%20without%20them.