Program Summary: Leading scientific organizations throughout the world and in the United States say the evidence of climate change is unambiguous and overwhelming. Yet significant public confusion persists around the basis for the scientific conclusions, as evidenced by recent attention in the media and among policy makers. This briefing will examine temperature records and their contribution to the scientific conclusion that global warming is occurring. But the temperature record offers us much more than an answer to the question “Is the planet warming?” Temperature observations from the past and in the future will provide vital clues about where climate is headed, how we might adapt to changes, whether our mitigation efforts are sufficiently aggressive, and if we need to pursue climate engineering strategies of last resort. Come hear where the active observation of the temperature record currently stands and is headed next.
Presented in partnership with: The American Geophysical Union (AGU), and the American Statistical Association (ASA)
