A U.S. space agency study shows human-caused climate change is altering many of Earth's natural systems, including permafrost, plants and lakes.

Cynthia Rosenzweig of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Institute for Space Science -- along with scientists at 10 other institutions -- say they have linked physical and biological impacts since 1970 with rises in temperatures during that period.

The study concludes human-caused warming is resulting in a broad range of impacts around the globe.

This is the first study to link global temperature data sets, climate model results and observed changes in a broad range of physical and biological systems to show the link between humans, climate and impacts, said Rosenzweig, lead author of the study.

The researchers said they also found the linkage holds true at the scale of individual continents, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Observed impacts include glaciers shrinking, permafrost melting and lakes and rivers warming, plants blooming earlier and animals species moving toward Earth's poles and higher elevations.

The research is reported in the May 15 issue of the journal Nature.

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