New seasons are emerging on Earth – study

As climate change poses an increasingly serious threat to humanity, British scientists have revealed that new, "man-made" seasons are forming on Earth, replacing traditional seasonal patterns. The findings were reported by "Live Science", citing recent research.

According to the study, human activity has severely disrupted nature’s ancient rhythms. In Southeast Asia, for example, a "smoke season" has emerged due to the widespread burning of vegetation during droughts. On the Indonesian island of Bali, a "plastic season" occurs between November and March, during which ocean waves bring large amounts of waste to the island's shores.

Meanwhile, traditional seasons are vanishing. In the Alps, winters have grown shorter and snowfall has declined, significantly impacting winter tourism and sports. The researchers also warn of “desynchronized seasons,” where summers are becoming increasingly hot, winters more mild, and extreme weather events more frequent.

The study introduces the term “arrhythmic seasons,” referring to the altered timing of seasonal natural events such as leaf fall, bird migration, flowering, and animal breeding.

Scientists argue that these shifting patterns remind humanity of its deep-rooted connection to the cycles of nature.

The primary driver of these changes is the continued use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. This has led to rising global temperatures and intensified environmental disasters around the world. In 2023, sea surface temperatures hit record highs, with heatwaves affecting 96 percent of the world’s oceans. In the North Atlantic, these conditions persisted for 525 consecutive days. Such changes have disrupted wind patterns, cloud formation, and water currents.

This year alone, several regions have experienced major ecological crises. Rivers in the Amazon have dried up, and the Marmolada Glacier in the Alps is projected to vanish by 2040. Over the past five years, its surface area has shrunk by 70 hectares. Experts describe the planet's current condition as being in an “irreversible coma.”

Earlier, a joint report by the world’s two leading meteorological agencies warned that global temperatures over the next five years are likely to reach or exceed record highs, increasing the likelihood of even more dangerous weather events.