Knowledge Tree
global average temperatures
Also known as: global surface temperatures
Facts (12)
Sources
ESS Subtopic 6.2: Climate change – Causes and Impacts mrgscience.com 7 facts
measurementUnder the RCP 8.5 scenario, global temperatures are predicted to rise by over 4°C by 2100, leading to more frequent heatwaves.
claimWhen radiative forcing is greater than 1, the excess energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface, oceans, and atmosphere, leading to long-term increases in global temperatures.
procedureTo perform a hindcasting experiment: 1) Select a historical time period (e.g., 1950–2000). 2) Use a climate modeling tool or online resource to generate predictions for that period. 3) Compare the model's predictions with actual historical data for global temperatures and CO2 levels. 4) Create a graph or chart to visualize the comparison. 5) Analyze the discrepancies between the model and real-world data to identify potential causes.
referenceThe National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) provides a graph of global temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from 1880 to the present on their Global Climate Change Indicators page.
claimIncreased global temperatures lead to higher rates of evaporation and increased cloud formation, which reflects more sunlight back into space and potentially slows the warming process, acting as a negative feedback loop.
measurementUnder the RCP 2.6 scenario, global temperatures are predicted to rise by approximately 1.5–2°C by 2100.
claimAnalysis of proxy data, including ice cores, tree rings, and deposited sediments, indicates a positive correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and global temperatures.
Scientific consensus on climate change - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 3 facts
claimNo scientific body of national or international standing disagrees with the view that global surface temperatures have increased due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
perspectiveThe science academies of 17 countries concurred in 2001 that global temperatures are rising and will continue to rise due to human activities, and they stressed the importance of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, concluding that "Business as usual is no longer a viable option."
claimThere is a very strong consensus in the scientific literature that global surface temperatures have increased in recent decades and that the trend is caused by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases.