Final answer:
Evidence of recent climate change includes alterations in animal migration patterns, shrinking glaciers, reducing sea ice, and increasing arctic temperatures. These changes result in habitat loss, modifications in species distribution, and rising sea levels, which all serve as direct indicators of climate change impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evidence of recent climate change can be observed in several ways which include changes in the patterns of animal migrations, such as those of penguins, alongside the shrinking of mountain glaciers, a reduction in the expanse of sea ice, and an increase in the average temperatures, particularly in the arctic region. These phenomena not only affect the physical environment but have significant implications for biodiversity and ecosystem health. Rising global average air and ocean temperatures, combined with an increased intensity of precipitation events, have been documented as direct consequences of climate change.
Glaciers provide a visible indicator of climate change, such as the dramatic retreat of the McCarty Glacier in Alaska from 1909 to 2004. The accelerating warming in the Arctic poses threats to species like polar bears. Additionally, warming causes shifts in marine populations due to changes in ocean temperatures. Climate gradients shifting up mountains put pressure on species and may lead to the disappearance of some habitats. Sea levels will rise, affecting shorelines, island sizes, and freshwater availability, creating further challenges for a multitude of species as well as human populations.