Here's a list of 50 ways we know climate change is real, along with examples and references.
1. Rising Global Temperatures: Measured surface temperatures have increased by about 1.2°C since the late 19th century. (NASA, 2021)
2. Ice Sheets Melting: The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased significantly in mass. (NASA GRACE satellite data)
3. Glacial Retreat: Worldwide glaciers are receding, including in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska, and Africa. (World Glacier Monitoring Service)
4. Decreased Snow Cover: Satellite observations show that the amount of spring snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere has decreased over the past five decades. (NOAA)
5. Sea Level Rise: Global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches (20 centimeters) over the last century. (IPCC, 2019)
6. Ocean Warming: The top 700 meters of ocean have warmed, showing increased heat content. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA)
7. Ocean Acidification: Oceans absorb CO2, leading to increased acidity, affecting marine life. (IPCC, 2014)
8. Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, droughts, and floods. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC)
9. Decreasing Sea Ice in the Arctic: The Arctic Ocean is losing about 13 percent of its sea ice per decade. (National Snow and Ice Data Center)
10. Heat Waves: More frequent and intense heat waves are being recorded worldwide. (World Meteorological Organization, WMO)
11. Coral Bleaching: Higher sea temperatures lead to coral bleaching and reef deaths. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
12. Thawing Permafrost: Permafrost in the Arctic is thawing, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. (U.S. Geological Survey)
13. Changes in Animal Migration Patterns: Species migrating earlier due to temperature shifts. (National Audubon Society)
14. Plant Phenology Shifts: Earlier flowering times and longer growing seasons are evident. (Nature Climate Change Journal)
15. Increased Frequency of Wildfires: Wildfires have become more frequent and severe with longer seasons. (U.S. Forest Service)
16. Shrinking Lakes: Bodies of water like the Dead Sea and Lake Chad are shrinking due to evaporation. (NASA's Earth Observatory)
17. Tropical Cyclones and Hurricanes: Increase in intensity and duration of storms. (AI Iyer, AGU Advances)
18. Extreme Precipitation Events: Increase in heavy rainfall events causing floods. (Environmental Research Letters)
19. Changes in Ocean Currents: Disruptions to currents such as the Gulf Stream affecting climate patterns. (Nature Communications)
20. CO2 Concentrations: Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have surpassed 415 ppm, the highest in 800,000 years. (Mauna Loa Observatory)
21. Nitrous Oxide and Methane Increase: Levels of other greenhouse gases like methane show significant increases. (Global Carbon Project)
22. Ocean Salinity Changes: Changing salinity patterns as evaporation and precipitation intensify. (Journal of Climate)
23. Global Precipitation Changes: Altered precipitation patterns, with dry areas getting drier and wet areas getting wetter. (Journal of Hydrometeorology)
24. Lake and River Ice: Decline in the duration of ice cover on rivers and lakes. (Journal of Climate)
25. Mass Coral, Invertebrate, and Fish Migrations: Movement of marine life to cooler waters. (Nature)
26. Desertification: The spread of deserts in arid regions, affecting habitable land. (UN Convention to Combat Desertification)
27. Higher Ten-Year Average Temperatures: Each decade since the 1980s has been warmer than the last. (NOAA)
28. Vegetation Pattern Changes: Shifts in vegetation patterns across various ecosystems. (Global Ecology and Biogeography)
29. Increased Pest Outbreaks: Warmer temperatures increase pest development rates. (Journal of Economic Entomology)
30. Changes in Land Ecosystems: Warming impacting ecosystems' structure and function. (Nature Climate Change)
31. Water Scarcity: More regions experiencing water shortages due to prolonged droughts. (World Resources Institute)
32. Ocean Layer Stratification: Changes in water density affecting ocean stratification. (Science Advances)
33. Increased Lightning Strikes: Higher frequency of lightning strikes due to increased storm energy. (Science Journal)
34. Decreased Agricultural Yields: Stress on agriculture from increased weather variability. (Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO)
35. Decreased Biodiversity: Climate change is a driver of species extinction. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
36. Human Health Impacts: Increased heat stress, vector-borne diseases, and respiratory issues. (World Health Organization, WHO)
37. Coral Reef Decline: Loss of reefs translates into loss of species and biodiversity. (Nature)
38. Increased Energy Demands: Changing weather patterns alter energy needs worldwide. (International Energy Agency, IEA)
39. Sea Level Intrusion into Aquifers: Saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers. (Journal of Environmental Quality)
40. Increased Insurance Claims: Rising due to more natural disasters. (Insurance Information Institute)
41. Disasters Linked to Climate Change: Insurance payouts linked to climate change impacts have increased. (Munich Re)
42. Global Climate Models: Models predicting warming trends that match observed data. (NOAA")
43. Scientific Consensus: Over 97% of climate scientists agree on human-caused climate change. (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
44. Climate Refugees: Displacement due to climate change is increasing globally. (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
45. Public Perception Data: Increasing awareness and acknowledgment across global populations. (Pew Research Center)
46. Global Policy Response: Adoption of international agreements like the Paris Accord. (UNFCCC)
47. Economic Costs: Economic burdens from climate change impacts are mounting. (World Economic Forum)
48. Temperature Entwined with CO2 Levels in History: Ice core samples show a correlation between CO2 and temperature over millennia. (Nature)
49. Increased Weather Volatility: More unpredictable weather patterns stress infrastructure and economies. (National Climate Assessment)
50. Documented Historical Shifts: Long-term data shows significant climate shifts from pre-industrial levels. (IPCC Fifth Assessment Report)