A recent research points out that the current effects of global warming are virtually irreversible, as it would take about one thousand years to undo the harm that the human activity does to the environment. The study was published in today’s issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The research was made by scientists from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other two European countries. The researchers stated that carbon dioxide particles tend to remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time, compared to other greenhouse molecules that disperse much more quickly into the air.

Susan Solomon, researcher at the U.S. NOOA, called for immediate measures that should be taken in order to minimize the negative effects that carbon dioxide has over our planet. She pointed out that the authorities should debate less and do more, as the “irreversible” changes are getting more obvious with every day.

The current measurements show that the Earth’s atmosphere contains about 385 carbon dioxide parts per million. Nevertheless, in 20 year’s time, it might increase by more than 50 percent, leading to a drop of precipitation levels by 10 percent in the tropical areas and 5 percent throughout the world.

The scientists also warned about sea levels, which could rise by about two or three feet during the next decades. According to the research team, this means that there will be many coastal regions and other islands that will be literally under water, if the governments do not act as soon as possible.