Long Term Trend Flashcards, test questions and answers

Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Long Term Trend and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Long Term Trend and get quick solutions for your test.

What is Long Term Trend?

As global warming continues to be a pressing issue, it is important to understand the long-term trend of global temperatures. Over the past century, average temperatures around the world have been steadily increasing. This rise in temperature has been linked to increased levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels.On a global level, the trend is clear temperatures are rising. Since 1880, the average global surface temperature has risen by an average rate of 0.13°C per decade. This means that since 1980, the average temperature has risen by 1°C or more with most of that rise occurring in just two decades – from 1980-2000 and 2000-2020. The effects of this rise have already been felt across the planet: more extreme heat waves and droughts; rising sea levels; melting glaciers and polar ice caps; more frequent and intense storms; shrinking habitats for many species; health risks associated with air pollution; ocean acidification and coral bleaching; disruption to agriculture due to changing climates; increasing wildfires in some areas and desertification in others; economic losses through decreased crop yields and rising energy costs. While short term trends can vary due to natural climate variability (such as El Niño or La Niña events), these short-term fluctuations do not alter our overall understanding that global temperatures are continuing their long term upward trend as a result of human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agricultural practices and other forms of land use change. As we move forward into an uncertain future it is vital that we monitor this long term trend closely in order to assess how much further we must go in order reduce emissions if we wish to limit future climate change impacts on ourselves and on other species living on Earth today.