Climate Change Impacts Lie Deeper Than Expected

It turns out humans have left way more than just surface level changes to the planet from activities like burning fossil fuels. New research shows our actions might also alter what lies hundreds or even thousands of meters under our feet!

Scientists looked at how extracting oil and gas disturbs underground areas. Drilling taps reservoirs holding water untouched for millions of years. Afterwards, companies pump salty water back in to maintain pressure. This shifts around long-isolated waters deep below.

Fracking is another issue. By cracking open rock with high pressure liquid, it brings bacteria and H2O where none were before. The process even causes quakes in areas not usually seismal active.

So while our climate impact gets most attention, life-filled zones far beneath us also face disruption. As usual, it seems nature's disturbances reverberate further than initially thought from our rising greenhouse emissions.

Climate Change Impacts Stir Things Up Underground Too

The research found that man-made pumping and drilling gets fluids flowing way more quicker underground than nature ever could. While this is notable, it's still unknown what effects the altered underground liquid movements might cause.

"We compared the speed of water circulation from oil/gas activities to Earth's natural rates, finding people dramatically speed up subsurface fluid dynamics," explained Professor Jennifer McIntosh from the University of Arizona.

Lead author Grant Ferguson added that most folks don't think about what lies miles beneath our feet. But as energy practices disturb hidden cave systems and aquifers, it's important to weigh any environmental consequences.

So as climate change shakes up life on the surface, our impact on underground waters may also bring unforeseen disruptions. More study is still needed though to decode impacts from all the mixing we've done to deep Earth's hidden waters.

Climate Solutions Need Subsurface Care Too

With so much still mysterious about underground environments, some strategies for fighting climate change present risks below our feet. For example, storing carbon captured from the air deep underground or extracting lithium using heavy water injection.

Even renewable options like geothermal energy might disturb hidden ecosystems over the long run. It's vital we know what's going on underneath to prevent new problems.

"The deep underground must be part of tackling climate change," noted Professor Jennifer McIntosh. But she stressed we understand Mars better than Earth's unseen waters and life far below us.

If we hope to rely more heavily on subsurface spaces, more studying is surely needed. Fixing the harm we've caused up top also means addressing unlikely impacts below to safeguard all of nature, above and below from further damage in the climate crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Climate Change

What exactly is climate change? Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global and regional weather patterns and temperatures. While some changes occur naturally, human activities – primarily burning fossil fuels – are the main driver of the rapid warming we are currently experiencing.

What are the 7 effects of climate change?

Rising temperatures

Extreme weather events (droughts, floods, wildfires)

Sea level rise

Melting ice caps and glaciers

Ocean acidification

Harm to ecosystems and biodiversity

Impacts on agriculture and food security

What are the 5 causes of climate change?

Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)

Deforestation

Industrial processes

Agricultural activities (especially livestock)

Waste and landfill emissions

How does climate change affect how we live? Climate change affects us now and will increasingly do so: more extreme weather displaces people, heat waves threaten health, decreased crop yields affect food supply, and rising sea levels threaten coastal communities.

How can we fix climate change? Fixing climate change requires systemic change. This includes switching to renewable energy (solar, wind), investing in energy efficiency, protecting forests, changing agricultural practices, and developing technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

What are 10 ways to stop climate change?

Save energy at home

Eat less meat

Walk, bike, or use public transit

Recycle and compost

Choose sustainable products

Support climate-friendly businesses

Divest from fossil fuels

Reduce flying

Talk about climate change

Get politically involved

How can we protect our environment? Protecting the environment goes hand-in-hand with combating climate change. This includes reducing pollution, conserving water, protecting biodiversity, and supporting policies that prioritize the planet's health.

Why is climate change bad? Climate change poses a serious threat to humans and the natural world. Its effects disrupt ecosystems, economies, and societies, leading to displacement, conflict, loss of biodiversity, and increasing health risks.

Reference:

What is Climate Change
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

The Effects of Climate Change
https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/effects/

Climate Change
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health

Climate change impacts
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts