How Has Earth’s Temperature Changed?

  1. Who generated this graph? Would you consider this credible source and why?

(Do a little gigging online for this)

  1. What is this a graph of?
  1. How do you know?
  1. What is the shape of the data?
  1. What do the axes tell you?
  1. What would this graph look like if the baseline was chosen as 1861 – 1890?

Or what about 1971 – 2000?

  1. How can you determine the global mean temperature for a particular year?
  1. What kind of trendlinesis overlaid over the data?
  1. Name the two differences between each trendline?
  1. What do the trendline depict? Hint: What does the slope mean?
  1. Why are there 4 trend lines?

How Has Earth’s Temperature Changed?

Answer Key

  1. Who generate this graph? Would you consider this credible source and why?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.

The IPCC is a scientific body. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.

Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC on a voluntary basis

  1. What is this a graph of?

This graph illustrates global mean temperature

  1. How do you know?

The title.

  1. What is the shape of the data?

Oscillating

  1. What do the axes tell you?

X axis: The timescale of data 1850 – 2005

Left Y axis: Difference/variation from the global temperaturecompared to1961 – 1990 average

Right Y axis: The global mean temperature in °C

  1. What would this graph look like if the baseline was chosen as 1861 – 1890?

Or what about 1971 – 2000?

The left axis would be shifted up or down depending on the particular baseline.

  1. How can you determine the global mean temperature for a particular year?

Actual data is represented by the black points.

  1. What kind of trendlinesis overlaid over the data?

Linear

  1. Name the two differences between each trendline?

The differences between the trendlines are the timescale and steepness of the slope.

  1. What do the trendline depict? Hint: What does the slope mean?

The trendline depicts the rate at which temperature changes over time.

  1. Why are there 4 trend lines?

To show how temperature has increased more rapidly with a smaller timescales.