What is the evidence for climate change?

• Main Author: Maslin, Mark
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University PressOxford 2008
• Subjects: Arctic; Climate change; Global warming; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780199548248.003.0004; https://academic.oup.com/book/586/chapter/135312139

Abstract ‘What is the evidence for climate change?’ considers both past and recent climate change through changes in temperature, precipitation, and relative global sea level to show that significant changes in climate have been recorded. These include a 0.74°C increase in average global temperatures over the last 100 years, sea-level rise of over 40mm, significant shifts in the seasonality and intensities of precipitation, changing weather patterns, and significant retreat of Arctic sea ice and nearly all continental glaciers. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 report states that the evidence for global warming is unequivocal and there is very high confidence that this warming is due to human activity.