The term "rapid warming" refers to a sudden and significant increase in temperature, often over a short period of time. This can be caused by various factors such as changes in weather patterns or natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions that release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to an increase in global temperatures. Rapid warming can have significant impacts on ecosystems and human societies, including melting ice caps, rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms.