What are the possible harmful effects from climate change and global warming?

We all keep hearing that global warming is a real serious threat to the world.

But how exactly is it a threat? What are the various specific harm that could result from global warming?

Here’s a list:

• Effect on Oceans – Global warming is already resulting in rising ocean levels; in addition, the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere (which is a main cause of global warming) makes the oceans more acidic, which is not exactly a good thing to happen.
• Melting of Greenland and West Antarctic Ice sheets – With a global average temperature increase of 1–4 °C, at least a partial deglaciation of the Greenland ice sheet, and possibly the West Antarctic ice sheets would occur. Such melting, in addition to raising the sea levels, will also have several ecosystem and biodiversity effects.
• Increasing in Extreme Weather Events – There is a high likelihood that global warming will result in more severe droughts, extreme precipitation (rains) and floods.
• Food Supply & Security – Food supplies are likely to get hit badly when the effects kick in from elevated CO2 in the atmosphere, higher temperatures, altered precipitation and transpiration regimes, increased frequency of extreme events, and modified weed, pest, and pathogen pressure.
• Loss of Animal and Plant Biodiversity – Expects many species of trees and animals to start having a miserable life, with some of them becoming extinct, as a result of global warming.
• Ocean Circulation Changes – Global warming is also expected to result in ocean circulation changes. Potential impacts associated with such changes include negative impacts on marine ecosystems, terrestrial vegetation, oceanic CO2 uptake, oceanic oxygen concentrations, and shifts in fisheries.
• Migration and Conflict – Millions might be displaced by rising sea levels, shoreline erosion, river and coastal flooding, or severe drought.
• Impact on Water – Global warming is expected to increased the pressure on groundwater supplies.

A wonderful, interactive map that shows which regions around the world will be harmed by which of the above effects – The Climate Warming Effects Map from Climate Hot Map.