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Peer Review

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Human activities are profoundly affecting the world’s climate, and mountains are a barometer of that effect. Each day, fossil fuel-burning technologies produce greenhouse gases that enhance the heat-trapping capability of the Earth’s atmosphere, gradually raising the planet’s temperature. Because of their altitude, slope and orientation to the sun, mountain ecosystems are easily disrupted by variations in temperature. As the world heats up, mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, while rare plants and animals struggle to survive over increasingly smaller ranges, and mountain people, already among the world’s poorest citizens, face greater hardships. Understanding how climate change affects mountains is vital as governments and international organizations develop strategies to reverse current global warming trends.