Climate Change and Temperature Records
| Related Information Climate Change Facts |
Because the phrases climate change and global warming are often used interchangeable, the issue of record setting temperatures, whether at the low end of the scale or the high end of the scale, often get invoked to support global warming theories.
Generally speaking, the theory of climate change does predict increasing global temperatures. In fact climate models in use typically predict that temperature changes will be most noticeable in polar areas.
In additional to changing termperature patterns, climate change theory also suggests that the world will experience changes in weather patterns. For example, climate change theory assumes that some areas of the world will receive more rainfall and some areas of the world will receive less rainfall.
Over the course of the past decade, evidence continues to mount supporting the predictions inherent in the climate models, both with temperature changes and more general changes in climate or weather patterns.
Many people also want to use temperature readings over time to support their views of a changing climate. The NASA Climate Change site keeps track of temperature trends.
In terms of long term temperature trends, they report that the average global temperature has increased 1.5o since 1880. The world also just experienced the warmest decade on record (2000-2009)
The site also provides a good deal of additional statistics, videos and animations to explain how our changing climate is changing specific areas of the world.
© 2011. Patricia A. Michaels