Climate facts: a journey through history
- 230 years ago - The Industrial Revolution begins and humans start to burn coal, gas and oil to help fuel their industry. This continues till present day and still goes on now…
- Over the last 200 years, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30% and scientists think that there are now more greenhouse gases in our atmosphere than at any other time in the last 800,000 years!
- In last 100 years, the temperature of the ground and surface of the sea has risen by 0.7°C – it may not sound like a lot but it’s already having a big impact on the Earth’s climate.
- In the past 10 years we have had the warmest weather ever recorded! In 2003 the temperature in Kent was 38.5°C - this is the hottest ever-recorded temperature in the UK.
- The last 8 years – In the winter of the year 2000 the UK was hit by floods that destroyed farmland and homes. The damage cost over £500 million to repair. It was the worst flooding the UK has seen in over 270 years.
- The last 5 years - In Europe, the August 2003 heatwave was probably the hottest for at least 500 years.
