Fact check: Contrary to post, global temperatures have been rising steadily over the past century
The Claim: Global temperatures have not risen even though greenhouse gas emissions have increased
A January 4th Facebook post (direct link, archive link) says that global temperatures have remained constant for the past hundred years.
“Nothing has happened but world temperatures have stagnated for most of the century, despite rising emissions,” reads the body of the post.
The post has been shared more than 25 times on Facebook.
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Global temperatures have risen steadily over the past century, according to data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The increase resulted in an overall increase of almost two degrees. Climate scientists say that greenhouse gases are the main cause of global warming.
Greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to the global warming trend, climate scientists say
Howard Diamond, NOAA’s climate science program manager, said the claim was not supported by legitimate scientific evidence.
According to NOAA data, Earth’s temperature has increased by about 0.14 degrees per decade since 1880. The rate of warming since 1981 more than doubled at a rate of 0.32 Degree every ten years.
“This temperature rise is unmistakable and clear as day,” Diamond said in an email. “In some parts of the world, particularly in higher latitudes towards the poles, warming has accelerated much more.”
The global warming trend has resulted in an overall increase of almost 2 degrees worldwide since 1880. This level of temperature increase is consistent in reports from several major climate agencies.
According to the latest data from NASA, the average temperature of the Earth’s surface in 2022 tied 2015 as the fifth warmest on record.
Most of the warming since 1950, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, has been caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, which have continued to increase over the last century.
According to climate researchers, this amount of global warming has already led to major environmental changes. Scientists have observed a rise in sea levels, a decrease in sea ice, and changes in weather patterns such as droughts and floods.
Fact check: A false claim, the term “global warming” has been renamed “climate change”.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Facebook user for comment.
Our fact-checking sources
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Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, accessed January 10, Climate Change
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EPAAugust 1, 2022, climate indicators: United States and global temperature
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EPA, February 25, 2022, Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data
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Howard Diamond, January 11, email exchange with USA TODAY
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John Bateman, January 12, email exchange with USA TODAY
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The Met Office Climate Dashboard accessed 10 January, Annual difference in global mean temperature from pre-industrial conditions
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NASA Accessed January 10, World of Change: Global Temperatures
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NASA, accessed January 11, Vital Signs | global temperature
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NASA accessed January 12, Global Warming vs. Climate Change
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NASA, January 12 NASA says 2022 will be fifth warmest year on record, warming trend continues
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NOAA, 28 June 2022, Climate Change: Global Temperature
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NOAA, 13 August 2021, Impacts of Climate Change
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NOAA, October 18, Climate change: Arctic sea ice summer minimum
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Tylar Greene, January 11, email exchange with USA TODAY
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact Check: Greenhouse Gases Behind Rising Global Temperatures
