Key Facts about: Climate Change
Average surface temperature: 1772-2006
(compared to a 1961-1990 baseline)
Global and Central England
Since 1900 mean global temperatures have risen by nearly 0.8°C, much of it over the past 50 years. The 2006 extended summer period was been the warmest on the long standing Central England Temperature (CET) record dates back to 1659 and May to September 2006 has been warmer than any equivalent period since then. The 2006 period included the warmest month ever, July, and a record temperature for September. Studies of this trend show that it is statistically significant and that most of the observed warming since the middle of the twentieth century was very likely caused by human activities. The IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report concluded that, depending on future emissions, mean global temperatures will increase to between 1.1 and 6.4°C above the 1980 to 1999 average by the end of the 21st century.
During the 20th century, the annual mean central England temperature warmed by about 1°C. The 1990s were exceptionally warm in central England by historical standards, about 0.6°C warmer than the 1961-1990 average.
- Source:
- Met Office, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research
Data Tables:
Download Chart Data: Microsoft Excel
Further Information:
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Page last modified: 15 April 2008
Page published: 12 August 2005