Exploration 2

Projected Global Mean Temperature

Projected Global Mean Temperatures
Observed and Projected Future Global Annual Average Temperature Relative to 1986–2005.  Image Source: IPCC

This figure shows both the observed and projected changes in global mean temperature for the low 2.6 and high 8.5 emission scenarios. Use the figure to answer the following questions.

  1. What is the increase in global mean temperature since 1900?
  2. In approximately what year do the projected global mean temperatures for the low 2.6 and high 8.6 emissions scenarios diverge?
  3. In the year 2100, what is the projected global mean temperature change for the:
    1. Low 2.6 emissions scenario?
    2. High 8.5 emissions scenario?
  4. What is the difference in the 1900 and 2100 global mean temperature for the two scenarios?
    1. Low 2.6 emissions scenario?
    2. High 8.5 emissions scenario?