Climate Information and Graphics

Keeping up with climate change science isn’t for everyone, but sometimes you just want to quickly get an update that you can understand. One of my favorite websites for data-based information on climate change is NASA. They create visuals that you can understand quickly and then dig deeper on a host of subjects. 

NASA: Climate Change and Global Warming


Quickly understand what drives sea level changes. “Sea level rise is caused primarily by two factors related to global warming: the added water from melting ice sheets and glaciers and the expansion of seawater as it warms.”


Get statistics on global temperature trends. “Nineteen of the warmest years have occurred since 2000, with the exception of 1998. The year 2020 tied with 2016 for the warmest year on record since record-keeping began in 1880.” 


Their global temperature time series visual from 1884 to 2020 is worth seeing!

Global Temperature | Vital Signs – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet (nasa.gov)


The effects of global warming have affected us in many ways and are becoming more obvious as temperatures continue to rise. These impacts are what has stimulated us to respond, both to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and to look towards ways to adapt or become more resilient. How do we know what the impacts are and how certain is the link between events (eg. flooding) and climate change.


The most comprehensive information on climate change is from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Each of their Working Groups assesses scientific literature related to specific topics and reports on current and predicted trends and impacts, as well as providing an indication of how good the science is on each topic. Currently they are working towards the 6th IPCC Reports. At times they address special topics. For example, they produced a special report on climate change and land, where you can read how climate change is affecting food security.

Special Report on Climate Change and Land — IPCC site


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