How has our climate changed?
Climatic conditions are now monitored right across the world. The widespread deployment of scientific weather instruments over the last century means we can now reliably measure where, and how large, recent changes in climate have been.
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There's a wide range of evidence which indicates our climate is warming:
- Increasing temperatures at the surface, above the surface, and in the depths of the ocean
- Changes in rainfall patterns
- Changes in nature
- Sea-level rise
- Melting glaciers
- Reduction in Arctic sea-ice
- Shrinking ice-sheets
Increasing temperatures
We know from global temperature records that the Earth has warmed by about 0.75°C in the last century. From the 1970s to 1990s warming was faster than over the century as a whole, but the rise has slowed more recently.
Science in-depth - Climate monitoring of the land and atmosphere
Science in-depth - Climate monitoring of the oceans and sea-ice
Changes in rainfall
Evidence shows rainfall patterns are changing across the globe. Generally, wet places are becoming wetter and dry areas are becoming drier. However, there are also changes between seasons in different regions. For example, rainfall in the UK during summer is decreasing, while in winter it is increasing.
Changes in nature
In the UK, the growing season has lengthened due to Spring starting earlier and the delayed onset of autumn/winter. Wildlife experts have noted that many species are changing their behaviour, from butterflies appearing earlier in the year to birds starting to change their migration patterns.
Science in-depth - Food, Forestry and Ecosystem Services
Sea-level rise
Since 1900, sea-levels have risen by about 10cm around the UK and about 17cm globally, on average. Evidence shows the rate of sea-level rise has increased in recent decades.
Science in-depth - Sea Level Rise and Shelf Seas
Melting glaciers
Glaciers all over the world are retreating. This has been observed in the Alps, Rockies, Andes, Himalayas, Africa and Alaska.
Reduction in Arctic sea-ice
Arctic sea-ice has been declining since the late 1970s, reducing by about 0.6 million km² per decade - an area about the size of Madagascar.
Science in-depth - Climate monitoring of the oceans and sea-ice
Shrinking ice-sheets
The Greenland and Antarctic ice-sheets, which between them store the majority of the world's fresh water, have both started to shrink.
Our climate impacts expert Dr Debbie Hemming discusses the evidence of climate change on the
Met Office's YouTube page
