Global temperature record
Topic: Climate Change: Causes, Evidence and the Global Response · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 11 "World Climate and Climate Change"
Meaning
The global temperature record tracks the average temperature of the Earth's surface over time. The world average is about 14 °C. NCERT says temperatures rose about 0.4 °C in each of two periods, 1901–44 and 1977–99, and names 1998 as the warmest year. These figures are now out of date. IPCC AR6 found 2011–2020 was about 1.1 °C warmer than 1850–1900. The WMO says 2024 was the warmest year on record, at about 1.55 °C above pre-industrial levels, and the first calendar year above 1.5 °C. 2025 ranked among the three warmest years (verify current).
Example
For India, the IMD found 2024 was the warmest year since 1901. In early 2025, temperatures were 1–3 °C above normal. This gave a short, mild winter that hurt crops and small industries.
Don't confuse with
- Breaching the Paris 1.5 °C limit: the Paris goal uses averages over 20 years. One year above 1.5 °C, such as 2024, does not mean the goal has been breached.
Related concepts
- Global warming
- Sea level rise
- Arctic amplification
- Glacier retreat in the Himalaya
- Climate tipping points