Climate Change's New Time Frame: Coldest Years Warmer Than Hottest by 2047

As climate change continues to impact our world, scientists are scrambling to learn more about it. Now, researchers have discovered that there's an urgent new time frame for climate change. A new, massive analysis has revealed that within 35 years, even the lowest monthly dips in temperatures will be hotter than what we've experienced in the past 150 years.

The findings come after the researchers developed a model that reveals a time frame over which ecological and societal disruptions by modern climate change will occur. They used data from 39 Earth System Models developed independently by 21 climate centers in 12 different countries. More specifically, they calculated the index for additional variables including evaporation, precipitation and ocean surface temperature and pH. This allowed them to better understand exactly what sort of occurrences would happen and along what time frame in the midst of climate change.

The findings, unfortunately, aren't all that positive. The scientists discovered that areas in the tropics are likely to experience unprecedented climates first--within the next decade. Under a business-as-usual scenario, the index shows the average location on Earth will experience a radically different climate by 2047.

That's not all they found. The researchers also noted that sea surface pH will surpass the limits of historical extremes in 2008. In addition, they found that the overarching global effect of climate change on biodiversity will occur not only as a result of the largest absolute changes at the poles, but also from small but rapid changes to the tropics.

"The results shocked us," said Camilo Mora, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Regardless of the scenario, changes will be coming soon. Within my generation, whatever climate we were used to will be a thing of the past."

Ecosystems are likely to be severely affected, as well. Rapid changes will tamper with the functioning of Earth's biological systems and force species to either move in an attempt to track suitable climates, or stay and try to adapt.

"Scientists have repeatedly warned about climate change and its likely effects on biodiversity and people," said Mora. "Our study shows that such changes are already upon us. These results should not be reason to give up. Rather, they should encourage us to reduce emissions and slow the rate of climate change. This can buy time for species, ecosystems and ourselves to adapt to the coming changes."

The findings are published in the journal Nature.