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Global Warming as a Chain of Events

Climate change operates through interconnected feedback loops that can amplify warming far beyond initial triggers.

Updated Jan 25, 2026 1 min read 1
1 min read
Updated Jan 25, 2026
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greenhouse effect climate change temperature rise

What you'll learn

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  1. The Ice-Albedo Feedback White ice reflects up to 90% of solar radiation, while dark ocean water absorbs 94%. As ice melts, more dark surface absorbs more heat.
  2. Water Vapor Amplification As temperatures rise, more water evaporates. Warmer air holds more moisture, trapping more heat—roughly doubling warming from CO2 alone.
  3. Permafrost Carbon Release Arctic permafrost contains 1,500 billion tonnes of carbon. As it thaws, microbes release CO2 and methane.
  4. Forest Changes Heat stress, droughts, and wildfires are killing trees in many areas. The Amazon may be approaching a tipping point.
  5. Tipping Points Many feedbacks involve thresholds beyond which changes become self-sustaining and potentially irreversible.

Global warming is not a simple linear process but rather a complex web of interconnected feedback loops.

The Ice-Albedo Feedback

White ice reflects up to 90% of solar radiation, while dark ocean water absorbs 94%. As ice melts, more dark surface absorbs more heat.

Water Vapor Amplification

As temperatures rise, more water evaporates. Warmer air holds more moisture, trapping more heat—roughly doubling warming from CO2 alone.

Permafrost Carbon Release

Arctic permafrost contains 1,500 billion tonnes of carbon. As it thaws, microbes release CO2 and methane.

Forest Changes

Heat stress, droughts, and wildfires are killing trees in many areas. The Amazon may be approaching a tipping point.

Tipping Points

Many feedbacks involve thresholds beyond which changes become self-sustaining and potentially irreversible.

Topics: greenhouse effect climate change temperature rise environment global warming