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Indicators of Climate Change

What the experts are saying

“Globally-averaged temperatures in 2016 were 0.99 degrees Celsius warmer than the mid-20th century mean. This makes 2016 the third year in a row to set a new record for global average surface temperatures.”NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).3

Air Temperature“Air temperatures have increased globally, by around 0.85 degrees Celsius since 1880, with most of the warming occurring since the 1970s.” Department of the Environment and Energy, Australian Government 1

“The 20 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1981, and the 10 warmest have all occurred in the past 12 years.” National Centers For Environmental Information, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2

“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and/or severe around the world. This is consistent with what we expect with a warming planet.”United States Environmental Protection Agency 5

Extreme Weather Events

“Increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, bush�res, tropical cyclones, cold snaps, extreme rainfall and droughts.” AAustralian Government Department of Environment and Energy 4

“Global warming is expected to increase the frequency of extreme El Niño events and extreme La Niña events.”Climate Change In Australia, Projections For Australia’s NRM Regions.7

Seasonal Weather and Rainfall Patterns

“The global water cycle is intensifying with a warming climate, which means wet areas are likely to get wetter and dry regions are likely to be drier in response to climate change.”Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy 6

“In 2005, the U.S. lost half of its coral reefs in the Caribbean in one year due to a massive bleaching event... Comparison of satellite data from the previous 20 years con�rmed that thermal stress from the 2005 event was greater than the previous 20 years combined.”

National Ocean Service, NOAA, US Department of Commerce9

Ocean Temperature

“Sea surface temperature has been consistently higher during the past three decades than at any other time since reliable observations began in 1880.”United States Environmental Protection Agency 8

“Global sea levels have risen at an average rate of 1.8 millimetres per year over 1961 to 2003. This rate has risen to around 3.2 millimetres per year from 1993 to 2012.”Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy 11

“Sea level rise is caused by two processes: thermal expansion (ocean water expanding as it heats up) and additional water �ows into the oceans from ice that melts on land. Both these processes are currently being observed.”Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy 10

Sea Levels

“Arctic sea ice extent for December 2016 averaged 12.10 million square kilometers (4.67 million square miles), the second lowest December extent in the satellite record.”

National Snow and Ice Data Center 13

“On average, glaciers worldwide have been losing mass since at least the 1970s which in turn has contributed to observed changes in sea level. The rate at which glaciers are losing mass appears to have accelerated over roughly the last decade.”United States Environmental Protection Agency 14

“For the year 2016, sea ice extent in both polar regions was at levels well below what is typical of the past several decades.” National Snow and Ice Data Center 12

Glaciers and Sea Ice

“Even relatively small increases in ocean acidity decrease the capacity of corals to build skeletons, which in turn decreases their capacity to create habitat for the Reef's marine life.”Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Government 16

“The oceans absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and are estimated to have absorbed about half the excess CO2 released by human activities in the past 200 years.”

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Government 15

Ocean Acidity

1 Department of the Environment and Energy, Australian Government https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science/understanding-climate-change/indicators#_ednref12 National Centers For Environmental Information, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators/3NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20170118/4 Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science/understanding-climate-change/indicators5 United States Environmental Protection Agencyhttps://www.epa.gov/climate-change-science/understanding-link-between-climate-change-and-extreme-weather 6 Australian Government Department of Environment and Energyhttps://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science/understanding-climate-change/indicators#_ednref17 Climate Change In Australia, Projections For Australia’s NRM Regions.7 https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/climate-campus/climate-system/australian-climate-in�uences/8 United States Environmental Protection Agencyhttps://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-sea-surface-temperature9 National Ocean Service, NOAA, US Department of Commercehttp://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html10 Department of Environment and Energy, Australian Government https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science/climate-change-future/sea-level11 Australian Government Department of Environment and Energyhttps://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science/understanding-climate-change/indicators#_ednref112 National Snow and Ice Data Centerhttps://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/13 National Snow and Ice Data Centerhttps://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/14 United States Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-glaciers15 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Government http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/threats-to-the-reef/climate-change/how-climate-change-can-a�ect-the-reef/ocean-acidi�cationGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Government 16http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/threats-to-the-reef/climate-change/how-climate-change-can-a�ect-the-reef/ocean-acidi�cation

What The Experts Are Saying ... References