Which of the following is a line of evidence for recent climate change?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a line of evidence for recent climate change?

Rising global temperatures over recent decades provide a direct and consistent signal of recent climate change. Global average temperature has increased since the late 1800s, with the fastest warming in recent decades, and this trend appears across multiple independent datasets (surface air temperatures, ocean heat content, satellites). This pattern matches the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and aligns with climate model projections, making it the clearest line of evidence for recent climate change. The other statements don’t fit the record: oceans warming is a real trend, not no trend; sea level has risen, not fallen; and volcanic activity varies naturally and doesn’t produce the sustained, long-term warming trend seen globally.

Rising global temperatures over recent decades provide a direct and consistent signal of recent climate change. Global average temperature has increased since the late 1800s, with the fastest warming in recent decades, and this trend appears across multiple independent datasets (surface air temperatures, ocean heat content, satellites). This pattern matches the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and aligns with climate model projections, making it the clearest line of evidence for recent climate change. The other statements don’t fit the record: oceans warming is a real trend, not no trend; sea level has risen, not fallen; and volcanic activity varies naturally and doesn’t produce the sustained, long-term warming trend seen globally.

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