Which Definition Best Describes Global Warming

“Climatic change” and “global warming” are ofttimes used interchangeably but have distinct meanings. Similarly, the terms “conditions” and “climate” are sometimes confused, though they refer to events with broadly unlike spatial- and timescales.

Weather condition vs. Climate

“If you lot don’t like the weather in New England, just expect a few minutes.”

Weather refers to atmospheric conditions that occur locally over curt periods of fourth dimension—from minutes to hours or days. Familiar examples include rain, snow, clouds, winds, floods, or thunderstorms.

Climate, on the other manus, refers to the long-term (usually at least 30 years) regional or even global average of temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns over seasons, years, or decades.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’southward surface observed since the pre-industrial flow (between 1850 and 1900) due to human being activities, primarily fossil fuel called-for, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Globe’s temper. This term is not interchangeable with the term “climatic change.”

Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’southward global average temperature past about 1 caste Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by more than 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. The current warming trend is unequivocally the result of human activeness since the 1950s and is proceeding at an unprecedented charge per unit over millennia.

What is Climatic change?

Climate modify is a long-term alter in the average weather patterns that accept come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. These changes have a broad range of observed effects that are synonymous with the term.

Changes observed in Earth’s climate since the mid-20th century are driven by human activities, particularly fossil fuel called-for, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere, raising Globe’s average surface temperature. Natural processes, which have been overwhelmed past human activities, can also contribute to climate change, including internal variability (e.g., cyclical sea patterns similar El Niño, La Niña and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation) and external forcings (east.k., volcanic activity, changes in the Sun’due south energy output, variations in Globe’south orbit).

Scientists use observations from the ground, air, and space, forth with calculator models, to monitor and study by, present, and future climate alter. Climate information records provide evidence of climate change key indicators, such as global land and ocean temperature increases; ascension bounding main levels; water ice loss at Earth’s poles and in mountain glaciers; frequency and severity changes in farthermost conditions such as hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and precipitation; and cloud and vegetation cover changes.

Find Out More: A Guide to NASA’southward Global Climatic change Website

This website provides a loftier-level overview of some of the known causes, effects and indications of global climate alter:

Bear witness.
Brief descriptions of some of the key scientific observations that our planet is undergoing precipitous climate modify.

Causes.
A concise discussion of the primary climate change causes on our planet.

Effects.
A look at some of the likely future furnishings of climate change, including U.S. regional effects.

Vital Signs.
Graphs and blithe time series showing real-time climatic change data, including atmospheric carbon dioxide, global temperature, body of water ice extent, and ice sheet book.

Globe Minute.
This fun video series explains various Earth scientific discipline topics, including some climate alter topics.

Other NASA Resources

Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio.
An all-encompassing drove of blithe climatic change and Earth science visualizations.

Sea Level Change Portal.
NASA’south portal for an in-depth look at the science behind sea level modify.

NASA’south Globe Observatory.
Satellite imagery, feature articles and scientific information well-nigh our home planet, with a focus on Earth’due south climate and ecology change.

Shutterstock credits: wandee007 (left), Amy Johansson (centre), Avatar_023 (right).