Climate change: the physics

The main points of the physics of climate change are
  • the world has warmed on average by 1.1°C
  • this is caused principally by mankind's emissions of CO2
  • it is causing increased droughts, heatwaves, storms and floods
  • future emissions will cause additional warming
  • the larger the total emissions, the greater the warming.
This is the scientific consensus based on the IPCC AR6 WG1 report of 2021.

Average temperatures are increasing

Source: IPCC [1]

The source is the IPCC [1] unless otherwise stated.

There are more extreme weather events


Extreme heat

Heavy rainfall

Droughts

Fire weather

The oceans are changing


Future emissions will cause additional warming

Source: IPCC [1]

Every tonne of CO2 emissions adds to global warming

Source: IPCC [1]


Sources

The main source for this document is the IPCC AR6 WG1 report of August 2021.
Links


References

[1]IPCC press conference slides (Aug 2021): https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/outreach/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Press_Conference_Slides.pdf
[2]Nasa https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/ (viewed 6.4.2019)


Last updated: 31 Oct 2022