Climate Q&A

A global warming of 1.8° F (1° C) seems small, so why is this change in global temperature a concern?

David Herring, Rebecca Lindsey | October 29, 2020

Considering some locations experience temperature swings of 30°F or more in a single day, warming of 1.8°F (1°C) might seem small, but Earth's annual temperatures are very stable when climate isn't changing.

Isn't there a lot of disagreement among climate scientists about global warming?

David Herring | February 3, 2020

No. By a large majority, climate scientists agree that average global temperature today is warmer than in pre-industrial times, and that human activity is the primary contributing factor.

Could climate change make Atlantic hurricanes worse?

National Climate Assessment | May 29, 2019

Pulled from the Fourth National Climate Assessment report published in November 2018, this FAQ explains what we know about the connection between global warming and Atlantic hurricanes.

Did global warming stop in 1998?

Rebecca Lindsey | September 4, 2018

The 15 years from 1998–2012 were the warmest on record at that time, but the rate of global surface warming was slower than it had been in the 2-3 decades prior thanks to several natural influences. Meanwhile, the ocean's heating imbalance continued to climb.

Why did Earth's surface temperature stop rising in the past decade?

Caitlyn Kennedy | September 1, 2018

The most likely explanation for the lack of significant warming at the Earth’s surface in the past decade or so is that natural climate cycles caused shifts in ocean circulation patterns that moved some excess heat into the deep ocean.

Which emits more carbon dioxide: volcanoes or human activities?

Michon Scott, Rebecca Lindsey | June 15, 2016

Human activities emit 60 or more times the amount of carbon dioxide released by volcanoes each year.

¿Qué emite más dióxido de carbono? ¿Los volcanes o la actividad humana?

Michon Scott, Rebecca Lindsey | June 15, 2016

Las actividades humanas emiten 60 veces o más la cantidad de dióxido de carbono liberado por los volcanes cada año.

What's the difference between global warming and climate change?

Caitlyn Kennedy, Rebecca Lindsey | June 17, 2015

Global warming is one symptom of the much larger problem of human-caused climate change.

Are record snowstorms proof that global warming isn't happening?

Caitlyn Kennedy | March 11, 2015

The United States has plenty of warming wiggle room before it gets too warm to snow, and a wetter atmosphere may boost snow totals for some storms.

What's the hottest Earth has been "lately"?

Michon Scott | September 17, 2014

Natural variability can explain much of Earth's average temperature variation since the end of the last ice age, but over the past century, global average temperature has risen from near the coldest to the warmest levels in the past 11,300 years.

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Climate Q&A