Is the average temperature of the earth at ground level currently warmer than it was 1,000 years ago?
Correct Answer
Scientists use "proxies" to estimate average global temperatures in the era before instrumental measurements were made on a global scale. Proxies are aspects of nature that respond to climate, such as the widths of tree rings. Proxy studies are uncertain, and some suggest the earth is warmer now than 1,000 years ago, while others indicate the opposite. Historical records show that some regions of the earth were definitely warmer within the past 1,000 years than they are now. For example, large areas of Iceland were cultivated in the 10th century, Norse settlers colonized Greenland, and "a general absence of sea ice allowed regular voyages at latitudes far to the north of what was possible in the colder 14th century." However, these regional indicators may not be representative of the entire globe.
DocumentationProxy StudiesModern Warmth in Context