Key learning points

1. Temperature data show an unusual, rapid increase in the Earth's average surface temperature over the last century or so.
2. This recent increase in average surface temperature is called global warming.
3. There is a correlation between data showing increasing temperature and data showing increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Most scientists agree that emissions from human activities are increasing the greenhouse effect, causing global warming.

Keywords

• Greenhouse effect - the effect of some gases in the atmosphere that keep Earth’s surface warmer than it would be without them

• Data - observations and measurements

• Global warming - an increase in Earth’s average surface temperature

• Correlation - a pattern in data that shows one factor changes as another factor changes

Common misconception