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Global Climate Change and Its Impacts

ters the albedo in polar regions, affecting the absorption and reflection of solar radiation, but
also exerts profound impacts on global ocean circulation and atmospheric circulation. For
instance, the Arctic sea ice decline may lead to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Over-
turning Circulation (AMOC), subsequently influencing climate patterns in Europe and North
America. In Antarctica, the accelerated melting of glaciers, particularly in the West Antarctic
Ice Sheet, has shown significant increases in melt rates over recent decades according to
some studies. This could result in global sea-level rise, posing severe threats to coastal eco-
systems and human societies. Current research on polar climate variability primarily focuses
on understanding its change mechanisms, predicting future trends, and assessing its impacts
on the global climate system. Looking ahead, with further advancements in observational
technologies such as high-resolution satellite remote sensing, polar buoys, and unmanned
submersibles, we anticipate deeper insights into the mysteries of polar climate variability,
providing critical data support for global climate change research.
Ocean acidification is also a hotspot in climate change research. As large amounts of
carbon dioxide emitted by human activities enter the atmosphere, approximately one-quarter
is absorbed by the oceans. This leads to an increase in hydrogen ion concentration in seawa-
ter, causing a decline in pH levels, known as ocean acidification. Since the Industrial Revolu-
tion, the pH of surface ocean waters has decreased by approximately 0.1, and is projected to
decline by an additional 0.3-0.4 by the end of this century. Ocean acidification has profound
impacts on marine ecosystemshave generatedmultifaceted impacts. Many marine organisms,
such as shellfish and corals, whose shells or skeletons are composed of calcium carbonate,
face inhibited calcification processes in increasingly acidic seawater, posing challenges to
their growth and survival. Coral reefs, as critical habitats for marine biodiversity, are par-
ticularly sensitive to ocean acidification. Acidification may lead to slowed growth rates and
structural damage in coral reefs, thereby affecting numerous marine species dependent on
them. Currently, scientists have made progress in studying the chemical processes of ocean
acidification, assessing its impacts on various marine biological groups, and predicting future
acidification trends. Moving forward, enhanced research on the interactions between ocean
acidification and other environmental factors (such as rising temperatures and eutrophica-
tion) will be essential to comprehensively understand its holistic effects on marine ecosys-
tems and provide foundations for developing effective conservation strategies.
Climate engineering, as an emerging research direction, has gradually gained attention
in recent years. It aims to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change through human
intervention in Earth’s climate system. Solar Radiation Management (SRM) is one of the
key research areas in climate engineering, with primary methods including stratospheric
aerosol injection,Marine Cloud Brighteningetc. The stratospheric aerosol injection approach
proposes to inject aerosol particles such as sulfates into the stratosphere to enhance Earth’s
reflection of solar radiation, thereby reducing surface temperatures. Some simulation studies
suggest that large-scale stratospheric aerosol injection could partially offset global warming

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