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Understanding Global Change

Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.

Understanding Global Change

Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.

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  • What is Global Change?
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    • Understanding Global Change 101
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Home → What is Global Change → Measurable Changes in the Earth System

Measurable Changes in the Earth System

Click the icons below to learn more about the parts of the Earth system that we can measure over time to determine how fast (rate) and how much (magnitude) the Earth system has changed. There are an enormous number of aspects of the Earth system that can be measured, and listed below are some of most significant changes that are occurring around the world. Each page links to related topics on the UGC Infographic.

Sort the icons by categories in the UGC Infographic by clicking the buttons in the row below.

  • All
  • Atmosphere
  • Biosphere
  • Geosphere
  • Hydrosphere
  • Quality of human life
  • Weather / extreme events

Air quality

Airborne particles

Biodiversity

Clouds

Displacement of human populations

Erosion

Extinction

Fire

Food availability and nutrition

Freshwater quality and availability

Health / disease

Life cycles and traits

Nutrient levels

Ocean acidification

Oxygen levels

Ozone layer

Precipitation

Productivity and biomass

Species ranges

Sea level rise

Temperature

Sedimentation

Uplift / sinking of land

Snow & ice cover

Soil quality

Weather / Extreme events

Species populations

Wind

Greenhouse gases

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