Climate Information
This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution. (Credit: Vostok ice core data/J.R. Petit et al.; NOAA Mauna Loa CO2 record.)
Climate change: How do we know?
Global Warming
Global Temperature Rise
Scientific Consesus
Global warming, also referred to as climate change, is the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects. Multiple lines of scientific evidence show that the climate system is warming. The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely lik
Global warming, also referred to as climate change, is the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects. Multiple lines of scientific evidence show that the climate system is warming. The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia.(1)
Scientific Consesus
Global Temperature Rise
Scientific Consesus
Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position. The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mi
Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position. The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th century.(2) Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that the Earth’s climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can also be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. This ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice-age-recovery warming.(3)
Global Temperature Rise
Global Temperature Rise
Global Temperature Rise
The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.(5) Most of the warming occurred in the past 35 years, with 16 of the 17 warmest years on record occurrin
The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.(5) Most of the warming occurred in the past 35 years, with 16 of the 17 warmest years on record occurring since 2001. Not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of the 12 months that make up the year — from January through September, with the exception of June — were the warmest on record for those respective months.(6)
Warming Oceans
Shrinking Ice Sheets
Shrinking Ice Sheets
The oceans have absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean showing warming of 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.(7)
Shrinking Ice Sheets
Shrinking Ice Sheets
Shrinking Ice Sheets
The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass. Data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment show Greenland lost 150 to 250 cubic kilometers (36 to 60 cubic miles) of ice per year between 2002 and 2006, while Antarctica lost about 152 cubic kilometers (36 cubic miles) of ice between 2002 and 2005.
Image: Flowing meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet
Glacial Retreat
Shrinking Ice Sheets
Glacial Retreat
Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere around the world — including in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska and Africa.(9)
Image: The disappearing snowcap of Mount Kilimanjaro, from space.
Decreased Snow Cover
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Decreased Snow Cover
Satellite observations reveal that the amount of spring snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere has decreased over the past five decades and that the snow is melting earlier.(15)
Sea Level Rise
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Decreased Snow Cover
Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century.(4)
Image: Republic of Maldives: Vulnerable to sea level rise
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice has declined rapidly over the last several decades.(8)
Image: Visualization of the 2012 Arctic sea ice minimum, the lowest on record
Extreme Events
Data Facts From NASA
Ocean Acidification
The number of record high temperature events in the United States has been increasing, while the number of record low temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950. The U.S. has also witnessed increasing numbers of intense rainfall events.(10)
Ocean Acidification
Data Facts From NASA
Ocean Acidification
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30 percent.(11,12) This increase is the result of humans emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and hence more being absorbed into the oceans. The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the upper layer of the oceans is increasing by about 2 billion tons per year.(13,14)
Data Facts From NASA
Data Facts From NASA
Data Facts From NASA
All the data from this webpage is produced by the Earth Science Communications Team at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory | California Institute of Technology
Climate reports
Climate Action Report
Climate Action and UNEP are delighted to present the official Climate Action report for COP23, Bonn, Germany.
