We examine in this project recent trends in the Earth's global surface temperature. This work supports the idea that the pace of global warming has not stalled in the last couple of years. We project observed trends into the future to obtain a measure of expected warming by 2050 and by 2100. Physically these projections rely on the assumption that man-made emissions of greenhouse gases will either continue at today's levels, or will continue to increase at today's rate. Finally we review what the expected impacts of average temperature change are on sea level rise, the precipitation cycle, and what adverse effects are feared regarding agriculture production.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Chapman, William H.

Subject

• Industry
• Environment
• Food
• Sustainability
• Well-Being

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042312-020919

Keyword

• Climatic changes
• Greenhouse gases
• Sustainability

Advisor

• Volkov, Darko

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-23

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright