Antarctic sea ice extent hit a record low extent in February, but thanks to large natural variability from year to year, experts say there is still no long-term trend.
Understanding Climate
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As of 2025, the warming effect of long-lived greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere had increased by 56% compared to 1990. Relative to pre-industrial times, today's atmosphere absorbs 3.59 extra Watts of heat energy per square meter.
The amount of sea ice that survives the Arctic summer has declined by 12 percent per decade since the start of the satellite record in 1979.
For the ninth year in a row, late spring snow cover was below average in 2026.
Mild and dry favored for the West; warm and wet for the Gulf and the Southeast.
Former executive director of the U.S. Global Change Science Program and several colleagues describe the rigor of the process that produced NCA5.
Experts question the need for the proposed amendment, its scientific objectivity, and whether it complies with the strict rules and procedures that are supposed to guide federal government production of “Highly Influential Science Assessments.”
Warmth favored for most of the country, with a little good news for the dry West.
International report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, global sea level, and ocean heat in 2025.
The Sun's average brightness varies over time, and the changes can affect global surface temperature. But long-term changes over the period of human-caused global warming are minimal.