Average+World+Temperatures

= = = = Average World Temperatures

Average World Temperatures (as compared to 30 year average)  ( [] )

Increased temperatures over the last 100 years Over the past century, the average world temperature has increased somewhere between 1.08-1.62 degrees F. **In addition, the rate of increased temperatures in the last 50 years is double the rate of the previous 100 years.** While this may seem like a small amount of increase, it could have tremendous effects on the global climate. **Scientists say the rapid rate of temperature increase has not been seen on earth in at least 400,000 years, if ever.** []

Temperatures still on the climb? Overall, it is difficult for scientists to predict just how much global temperatures may rise in the next 100 years. Scientific models seem to suggest that **temperatures could increase anywhere from 2-9 degrees Farenheit** during that time period. Check out this graph for an example of possible outcomes: []

Effects of higher temperatures on the Earth Total effects of increasing temperatures cannot be completely predicted. However, many effects are already being seen such as melting ices shelves around the world, the destruction of coral reefs, and increased power of hurricanes to name a few. To put world temperature increases in perspective, during the last ice age, the world was only 9-15 degrees Farenheit cooler than it is currently. More detailed information on increasing temperatures can be found on student created wiki pages within this project.