Fact Check: "The Earth's average surface temperature has increased by approximately 1.1°C since 1880."
What We Know
The claim that the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by approximately 1.1°C since 1880 is supported by multiple reputable scientific sources. According to the NOAA Climate.gov, the global average surface temperature has risen about 1.1°C (2.0°F) since the late 19th century (1850-1900). This increase is attributed primarily to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases. The NASA Earth Observatory corroborates this finding, stating that the average global temperature has increased by at least 1.1°C since 1880, with most of the warming occurring since 1975 at a rate of approximately 0.15 to 0.20°C per decade.
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from well-respected scientific organizations, including NOAA and NASA, which utilize extensive datasets and rigorous methodologies to analyze global temperature changes. The NOAA reports that the increase in temperature is significant, representing a considerable rise in heat energy within the Earth system. Their data shows that the average global temperature has risen steadily, with the ten warmest years on record occurring in the last decade.
Similarly, the NASA Earth Observatory emphasizes that the majority of the warming has occurred since 1975, highlighting a clear upward trend in global temperatures. The consistency of findings across multiple independent research groups enhances the reliability of this data, as they all demonstrate a similar upward trend in global surface temperatures.
While some sources, such as the Wisconsin DNR, report slightly lower figures (around 1.0°C), the consensus among major scientific organizations is that the increase is indeed around 1.1°C. This slight variation can be attributed to differences in methodologies or baseline periods used for calculations, but it does not detract from the overall conclusion that significant warming has occurred.
Conclusion
The claim that "The Earth's average surface temperature has increased by approximately 1.1°C since 1880" is True. The evidence from multiple credible scientific sources consistently supports this assertion, indicating a clear trend of rising temperatures primarily driven by human-induced factors.
Sources
- Climate change: global temperature - NOAA Climate.gov
- World of Change: Global Temperatures - NASA Earth Observatory
- Global Temperature | Vital Signs – Climate Change - NASA
- The Science of Climate Change | The world is warming
- History of Earth's temperature since 1880 - NOAA Climate.gov
- Climate Change: Global Temperature
- Global Surface Temperature | GlobalChange.gov
- 2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record, NASA Analysis Shows
