Observed climate change

The global warming we have witnessed over the last 50 years is advancing much faster than previously observed. The warming is greatest over land and at high northern latitudes, and least over the Pacific Ocean and northern Atlantic Ocean.

The UN climate panel (IPCC) concluded in its Fourth Assessment Report that climate changes are being observed at both global and regional level.

At global level, there is an observable trend that the average temperature is rising by 0.13 °C per decade, and melting snow and ice is leading to rising sea levels. The climate system is also changing in terms of precipitation patterns.

At the local level, changes are being projected in stream patterns, precipitation, ice and certain extreme weather conditions.

Global climate change
Over the last 100 years (1906-2005), the global average temperature has risen by 0.74°C. Six of the seven warmest years have occurred since 2001.
Regional climate changes
For all climate scenarios, model calculations shows that the warming is greatest over land and at high northern latitudes, and least over the Pacific Ocean and northern Atlantic Ocean.

Construction

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