The long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature is known as global warming. Instrumental records show that the planet has warmed by roughly 1.1 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century, with most of the increase occurring since the 1970s.

The primary driver is the accumulation of greenhouse gases from human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels. These gases trap additional heat that would otherwise escape to space. Natural factors such as volcanic aerosols and solar output have not produced the observed trend.

Consequences include shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, more frequent heat extremes, and shifting precipitation patterns. The warming is not uniform; high latitudes have warmed faster than the global average. Continued emissions are projected to produce further increases unless mitigated.

• Long-term rise in global temperature
• Driven mainly by greenhouse gases
• Affects ice, sea level, and extremes
• Documented by multiple independent records