Instead of exploring average temperature data, this article looks at temperature anomalies; in other words, deviations from average temperatures. Why is it more useful? Because the “normal” temperature range for each location is widely different – by looking at anomalies, we can effectively measure the temperature trend while avoiding climate bias.
References to global warming in this article include both land and ocean warming. The decision to not overlook ocean warming makes sense, as 90% of global warming occurs in the ocean.
Historical Temperature Trends
Historical records from the mid-20th century indicate a steady rise in average temperatures. While natural climate variability has caused certain fluctuations, the general trend has been a consistent warming. CONTINUE READING