Climate warming is global and fast, say Swiss experts
Swiss scientists have discounted allegations that the current climate change is a recurring phenomenon in the history of mankind.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/urs
A team of researchers from the Swiss university of Bern gathered evidence showing that the previous periods of rising and dropping temperatures from the 14th to the 19th century were limited in space and not a global occurrence.
The statement was published in a press release by Bern UniversityExternal link on Wednesday. It is based on two separate studies in the British science journal, NatureExternal link and in a supplementary publication, Nature Geoscience.
Faster than ever
“In contrast to pre-industrial climate fluctuations, current anthropological climate change is occurring across the whole world at the same time. In addition, the speed of global warming is higher than it has been in at least 2,000 years,” the university said in its release.
“Regional climates in pre-industrial times were primarily influenced by random fluctuations within the climate systems themselves. External factors such as volcanic eruptions or solar activity were not intense enough to cause markedly warm or cold temperatures across the whole world for decades, or even centuries,” according to the researchers.
In contrast, the two new studies show that the latest warming beginning in the 20th century has covered 98% of the Earth’s surface and is most likely the warmest period of the last 2,000 years.
“This shows – once again – that modern climate change cannot be explained by random fluctuations, but by anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases,” the scientists conclude.
The authors of the report say that the lowest temperatures during the Little Ice Age were recorded in the central and eastern Pacific regions in the 15th century. Later the cold shifted to north-western Europe and to the south-east on the North American continent.
The findings on the five pre-industrial climate periods are based on data from the international research consortium Past Global ChangesExternal link, which provides an overview of climate data from the last 2,000 years.
The consortium was set up by Swiss and United States institutions in 1991.
More
More
Climate sceptics’ arguments, debunked
This content was published on
Melting glaciers, air pollution, youth activism: videos about climate change get some quite sceptical feedback.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
This content was published on
Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife, Eva Pavlova, arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday at the start of a two-day state visit.
Study shows proliferation of non-native plants is driver of insect invasions
This content was published on
A global study has revealed that insect invasions are being driven by the proliferation of non-native plants. This can can massively disrupt ecological processes, often leading to serious economic impacts.
Swiss set record for world’s longest hyperloop test
This content was published on
Swiss scientists have established a record for the longest-ever hyperloop journey at a facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Swiss army wants to purchase new German armoured howitzers to replace its existing artillery system which has been in operation for over 50 years.
Poll suggests Donald Trump has many fans in Switzerland
This content was published on
Around a quarter of Swiss citizens would vote for Donald Trump if they had the chance, according to a recent poll. This percentage is higher than in many other European countries.
Swiss court rejects special assistance for student with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court has rejected an application for special assistance from a student with disabilities at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
Police arrest 15 drug dealers in Verbier in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
Swiss and French police have arrested 15 suspected drug dealers operating in the mountain resort of Verbier in southern Switzerland.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss fuel-related CO2 emissions remained stable in 2018
This content was published on
Despite an increase in the use of biofuels and electric vehicles, fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions remained unchanged in 2018 in the country.
Climate study warns of greenhouse gas feedback loop
This content was published on
Many current climate models could be underestimating the long-term consequences of global warming, says an international study.
This content was published on
The ozone hole over Antarctica has not made headlines for some time. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the recovery of the damaged layer is back on track since chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are practically no longer produced or consumed. However, this does not mean that ozone research has lost importance, as past reports by the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.