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The story
At this moment in time, the world has warmed about one degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level. This new analysis says that temperatures would have risen much faster if it weren't for the oceans, forests and lands absorbing vast amounts of CO2 from human activities.
However, as temperatures continue upwards, the scientists say that these natural systems can flip from soaking up carbon to spewing out huge quantities into the atmosphere. That could cause a domino effect, where permafrost thaws, forests die back and ice sheets crumble – leading to a world with four to five degrees of warming with towering seas inundating coastlines.
Key words and phrases
tipping point
time after which events can't be stopped
• Employee anger over pay has reached a tipping point. Workers will now strike.
• His latest affair was a tipping point in their marriage. She left the next day.
ominous
implying something bad will happen
• Dan's car started making ominous noises, so he took it to a mechanic.
• I had an ominous dream about the party. I don't think we should go.
domino effect
situation where one event causes a series of consecutive events
• Some warn that A.I. will have a domino effect on jobs.
• Bad intelligence caused a domino effect of military mistakes.
To do
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