CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
It’s no secret that Earth is in trouble, and it is largely our fault. Since the Industrial Revolution we have been pumping so much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that our planet is rapidly warming. The race is on to keep the rise to under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), but it is a target we are predicted to miss. The consequences could be dire: rising sea levels, water shortages, increased migration and the possibility of more frequent wars as we battle each other for resources.
It could turn out to be the greatest foe we have ever faced, and it is largely of our own making, yet there is still time to turn things around. Public awareness of the issue has never been higher, and governments and individuals alike are slowly starting to wake up to their responsibilities – but will it all be too late? Part of the trouble is that the climate of a planet is an incredibly complex system with a lot of moving parts. Throughout its history Earth has warmed and cooled all on its own, alternating between ice ages and more temperate phases. How do we tease out our contribution from these
