the average temperature increase in the last 100 years is only 2°F. How can such a small amount be impactful?

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Not looking for a political argument. I need facts. I am in no way a climate change denier, but I had a conversation with someone who told me the average increase is only 2°F over the past 100 years. That doesn’t seem like a lot and would support the argument that the climate goes through waves of changes naturally over time.

I’m going to run into him tomorrow and I need some ammo to support the climate change argument. Is it the rate of change that’s increasing that makes it dangerous? Is 2° enough to cause a lot of polar ice caps to melt? I need some facts to counter his. Thanks!

Edit: spelling

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26 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Two degrees *average temperature* change is a scientifically useful measure, but it’s not a very effective way of advertising the problem, because most people think of two degrees as trivial: it doesn’t really feel very different if it’s 22°C versus 20°C out (or if it’s 72°F versus 70°F). But aside from that 2-degree shift in the *average* temperature, the hots are getting hotter and the colds are getting colder (and the wets are getting wetter and the dries are getting drier). Consider: 2 is the average of 1 and 3. It is also the average of 4 and 0. It is also the average of 20 and -16. It is also the average of 40 and -36. And of 80 and -76.

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