The recent documentary "Earth's Catastrophe: Global Warming" aired on EBS's Docuprime "Science" collection, delves into the impact of global warming on our planet. Watching this broadcast made me realize once again that global warming is not just a simple climate change, but a serious catastrophe we face. Below is an article based on the content of the broadcast.

A 1-degree Celsius Rise in Global Average Temperature: The Beginning of Catastrophe

A 1-degree Celsius rise in global average temperature will lead to persistent droughts, intensifying desertification. Some plants and animals unable to adapt to these changes will begin to go extinct. This marks the first stage of the breakdown of Earth's ecosystem. The destruction of the ecosystem due to climate change will ultimately have a devastating impact on us humans.

A 2-degree Celsius Rise: Collapse of the Climate System

A 2-degree Celsius rise will cause the Earth's climate system to collapse. This will lead to frequent occurrences of massive floods and droughts. The glaciers in the Arctic and Greenland will melt, leading to the extinction of Arctic creatures and rising sea levels, ultimately causing coastal cities to become submerged. The rising sea level will result in the loss of hundreds of millions of lives, leading to significant social turmoil worldwide.

A 3-degree Celsius Rise: A Crisis in Food Production

A 3-degree Celsius rise will result in powerful hurricanes, disrupting food production. The collapse of the Amazon rainforest will further deteriorate the Earth's environment, causing both wild animals and humans to suffer from starvation and famine. The decline in food production will lead to a global food shortage, causing famine and social unrest.

A 4-degree Celsius Rise: A Global Catastrophe

A 4-degree Celsius rise will result in an influx of refugees across the globe. The Antarctic ice sheet and the permafrost in Siberia will rapidly melt, leading to changes in the terrain. The thawing of the permafrost will re-activate ancient viruses trapped within it, posing a new threat of infectious diseases to humanity.

Changes in Permafrost and Its Risks

The broadcast particularly emphasized the changes in the permafrost. In the Yakutia region of Siberia, wildfires occur throughout the summer, and the thawing permafrost is causing changes in the terrain. These changes have a significant impact on the Earth's environment and pose the risk of ancient viruses awakening.

※ Permafrost = Soil or subaqueous sediment that has remained at or below 0°C (32°F) for at least two consecutive years.

Revival of Ancient Viruses

The broadcast introduced research on ancient viruses discovered in the permafrost of Siberia. In 2014, Professor Clave's team discovered a 30,000-year-old virus in Siberian permafrost, warning of a potential new infectious disease threat to humanity. In fact, in 2016, anthrax reappeared on the Yamal Peninsula in Siberia, infecting numerous reindeer and humans.

The Severity of Global Warming

According to the IPCC's sixth report, the Earth's temperature has risen by nearly 1 degree Celsius in the past two years. This is an unprecedentedly rapid increase compared to the past 100 years, a result of the intensified use of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. The Earth, having passed the tipping point, experiences a disruption in the circulation of heat, water vapor, and carbon, leading to extreme weather events that result in the death of countless lives.

Personal Reflections

Watching Docuprime's "Earth's Catastrophe: Global Warming" made me realize once again the severity of global warming. The broadcast provided a compelling explanation of the phenomenon of global warming and its resulting disasters based on scientific data. The changes in the permafrost and the possibility of ancient viruses re-emerging were particularly shocking, making me realize that the impact of global warming is more than just climate change.

This documentary heightened my awareness of the global warming problem and made me realize that our efforts to solve it are essential. I am determined to start taking small steps now to protect the Earth's environment and create a sustainable future.