Global temperature change is usually shown compared to an average, or "baseline," temperature. The
horizontal line across the middle of the graph onscreen represents average global temperature for the
years 1901-2000.
Change from average
Expressing temperature in relation to a baseline is useful because it most effectively shows how the
temperature has changed through time.
Move sliders below
to explore the warming trend
Data source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Climate at a Glance: Global Time Series, 2018.