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Modern climate change
Although the earth's climate has been constantly changing and evolving since the earth began, the current rate of change is unusual. Global temperatures have increased more rapidly since the Industrial Revolution than during the past thousand years, according to data from tree rings and boreholes, with the exception of a slight cooling in the 1950's. In particular, the 1990's were the warmest decade since the mid-19th century.
The graph below shows how temperatures have changed since 800 AD according to a handful of data sources. The rapid rate of change, along with its connection to human activities, is why climate change is such an important issue.
For more information on this graph, you can go to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Working Group 1 report, Chapter 6.
Next page -> modern climate change, continued
Links and resources
Although the earth's climate has been constantly changing and evolving since the earth began, the current rate of change is unusual. Global temperatures have increased more rapidly since the Industrial Revolution than during the past thousand years, according to data from tree rings and boreholes, with the exception of a slight cooling in the 1950's. In particular, the 1990's were the warmest decade since the mid-19th century.
The graph below shows how temperatures have changed since 800 AD according to a handful of data sources. The rapid rate of change, along with its connection to human activities, is why climate change is such an important issue.
For more information on this graph, you can go to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Working Group 1 report, Chapter 6.
Next page -> modern climate change, continued
Links and resources
