Explained: How the climate has warmed over the last 24,000 years

What is the News?

Scientists from the University of Arizona have studied and reconstructed Earth’s climate since the last ice age which was about 24,000 years ago. 

What are the key findings of the study?

The study has suggested that current temperatures are unprecedented in 24,000 years. It has three main findings, which are:

Firstly, the main drivers of climate change since the last ice age are rising greenhouse gas concentrations and the retreat of the ice sheets.

Secondly, there is a general warming trend over the last 10,000 years. This settles a decade-long debate in the palaeoclimatology community about whether this period trended warmer or cooler.

Thirdly, the magnitude and rate of warming over the last 150 years far surpasses the magnitude and rate of changes over the last 24,000 years

Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: How the climate has warmed over the last 24,000 years” published by Indian Express on 15th November 2021.