A sustained increase in the average temperature of the Earth, sufficient to cause climate change.
Changes in surface air temperature over the past 50 years. The Arctic has warmed the most, and temperatures on land have generally increased more than sea surface temperatures.
A sustained increase in the average temperature of the Earth, sufficient to cause climate change.
Earth's average surface air temperature has increased almost 1.5 °C (about 2.5 °F) since the Industrial Revolution. Natural forces cause some variability, but the 20-year average shows the progressive influence of human activity.
A sustained increase in the average temperature of the Earth, sufficient to cause climate change.
Global surface temperature reconstruction over the past 2000 years using proxy data from tree rings, corals, and ice cores in blue. Directly observed data is in red.