Title: 2. How has climate changed? | Australian Academy of Science
Headings: 2. How has climate changed?
2. How has climate changed?
Past climate has varied enormously on a variety of time-scales
Past records demonstrate that global climate is sensitive to small but persistent influences
Box 2.1: How do we detect climate change?
Box 2.2: Has climate warming recently stopped?
Global average temperatures have increased over the past century
Changes are evident in many parts of the climate system
There are regional differences to climate change including within Australia

Content: 2. How has climate changed? | Australian Academy of Science
2. How has climate changed? Aerial view of the Norman River flowing towards the Gulf of Carpentaria in far north Queensland. Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/John Carnemolla
Past climate has varied enormously on a variety of time-scales
Scientists have been using specialised equipment to measure and record weather and climate since 1850. NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satellite is designed to provide rain and snow observations worldwide. Visualisation: NASA
Earth’s climate has changed dramatically many times since the planet was formed 4.5 billion years ago.