Global Surface Temperatures

This long-term record of global temperature is a key indicator of warming in the climate system.

The bars on the graph show the number of degrees by which the average global temperature for each year differs from the average global temperature during the last century (1901-2000).

Global Surface Temperatures

Caption:

Key Points:
Since the 1880's, the average global temperature has increased by 1.9°F. Since the late 1970's, average temperatures have exceeded the last century's average every year.

About the Indicator:
Global average temperatures include air temperatures measured on land and sea surface temperatures measured from ships and buoys worldwide. The data shown in the graph were drawn from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) and International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS). .

Why It's Important:

Changes in global temperatures over the past century provide one important line of evidence for the effects of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Such evidence can inform national and international policy discussions.

This figure, "Global Surface Temperatures", was provided by . Please contact for any questions or additional information regarding this figure.

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This figure, “Global Surface Temperatures” , is a single panel figure, was created on 01/26/2018 , was last updated on 09/08/2023 .

Please access the “Panel Details” tab for more information on this panel.

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Caption: Key Points: Since the 1880's, the average global temperature has increased by 1.9°F. Since the late 1970's, average temperatures have exceeded the last century's average every year. About the Indicator: Global average temperatures include air temperatures measured on land and sea surface temperatures measured from ships and buoys worldwide. The data shown in the graph were drawn from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) and International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS). </a>. Why It's Important: <ul><li> Changes in global temperatures over the past century provide one important line of evidence for the effects of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Such evidence can inform national and international policy discussions. </li>

This panel, "Global Surface Temperatures" is an adapted panel.

The panel version presented here was adapted from the original as follows:

Design

The original figure is found in:

NOAA NCEI, cited 2023: Climate at a Glance: Global Time Series, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [Available online at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/global/time-series/globe/land_ocean/12/12/1880-2022]

For full details, please download the full metadata record available on the “Full Record” tab.

# of panels	1
Panel #1
Graphics Title	Global Surface Temperatures
Creation Date	01/26/2018
Period of Record	12/31/1879 – 12/30/2022
GCIS URI	/report/indicators-2023/figure/indicator-global-surface-temperature-2023
Origination	Adapted
Publication Type	Web Page
Citation	NOAA NCEI, cited 2023: Climate at a Glance: Global Time Series, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [Available online at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/global/time-series/globe/land_ocean/12/12/1880-2022]

Global Surface Temperatures

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The bars on the graph show the number of degrees by which the average global temperature for each year differs from the average global temperature during the last century (1901-2000).

Date Range: 1880 - 2022

Contributors:

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Land and Ocean Surface Temperatures Are Increasing

Since the 1880's, the average global temperature has increased by 1.9°F. Since the late 1970's, average temperatures have exceeded the last century's average every year.

Why It's Important

Changes in global temperatures over the past century provide one important line of evidence for the effects of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Such evidence can inform national and international policy discussions.

About Global Surface Temperatures

Global average temperatures include air temperatures measured on land and sea surface temperatures measured from ships and buoys worldwide. The data shown in the graph were drawn from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) and International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS).

Global Surface Temperatures