The Warming Earth - Temperature evidence, and the "2 degree limit"
Claiming "global temperatures have not risen for ..... years " is a popular quote.
But actually the temperature has risen.
This chart shows the annual average global temperatures from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)
But actually the temperature has risen.
This chart shows the annual average global temperatures from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)
It's useful to look at average global temperatures by comparing decades.
Since the mid 20th century global temperatures have risen, decade by decade.
New research published June 2015 confirms this trend:
Over a longer term, it's obvious that the current situation is unusual.
A temperature rise of 2 degrees C above pre-industrial temperature has been agreed as a threshold beyond which climate change risks become unacceptably high.
However, there are a few major objections to the "two-degree limit".
Many say the number is simply too high.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has pointed out that a two-degree global average rise might result in Africa’s temperature rising as much as 3.5 degrees—a potentially disastrous change.
The current rise has reversed the natural trends.
The graph uses data from modern temperature records, plus information about the past from a research paper that combined data from over 70 different scientific studies.
However, there are a few major objections to the "two-degree limit".
Many say the number is simply too high.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has pointed out that a two-degree global average rise might result in Africa’s temperature rising as much as 3.5 degrees—a potentially disastrous change.
The current rise has reversed the natural trends.
The graph uses data from modern temperature records, plus information about the past from a research paper that combined data from over 70 different scientific studies.
