Skip to main content
Menu
Climate
.gov
Science & information for a climate-smart nation
Main Menu
Main menu
News & Features
Home
All News & Features
Blogs
ENSO Blog
Polar Vortex Blog
Beyond the Data Blog
Climate And ...
Climate Case Studies
Climate Dashboard
Event Tracker
Climate Q&A
Featured Images
Climate Tech
Videos
Decision Makers Take 5
Decision Makers Toolbox
El Niño & La Niña Page
Features
News & Research Highlights
Understanding Climate
View News & Features section
Maps & Data
Home
All Maps & Data
Climate Dashboard
Climate Data Primer
Data Snapshots
Dataset Gallery
Tools & Interactives
View Maps & Data section
Teaching Climate
Home
Climate Dashboard
All Teaching Climate
Activity
Curricula
Demos & Experiments
Video
Visualization
Teaching Climate
Teaching Energy
Toolbox for Climate & Energy
Partnership with CLEAN collection
View Teaching Climate section
Resilience Toolkit
About
About Us
Contact
What's New
FAQs
Sitemap
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Search
Search
powered by
webLyzard
technology
Breadcrumb
Home
News & Features
Climate Qa
42071
39.76
-76.18
All
News & Research Highlights
Featured Images
Videos
Event Tracker
Climate Q&A
ENSO Blog
Blogs
Beyond the Data
Climate Case Studies
Climate Tech
Climate and ...
Decision Maker's Toolbox
Features
Understanding Climate
Decision Makers Take 5
Filter by
Clear All
Topics
Climate System
Global Energy Balance
Orbital Cycles
Long-term Cycles
Seasons
Solar Radiation
Atmospheric Composition
Greenhouse Gases
Aerosols
Evolution of Atmosphere
Greenhouse Effect
Atmospheric Circulation
Hadley Cells
Coreolis Effect
Ocean and Climate
Heat Capacity of Water
Thermohaline Circulation
Thermal Expansion
Climate Feedbacks
Albedo
Deforestation
Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Biogeochemical Processes
Sources and Sinks
Regional Climates
Climate Compared to Weather
Causes of Climate Change
Cyclical and Natural Changes
El Nino, La Nina, ENSO
Other Oscillations
Volcanic Eruptions
Solar Output Variability
Seasonal Variability
Long-term Variability
Anthropogenic Changes
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Land Use Changes
Measuring and Modeling Climate
Climate Data
Measurements and Observations
Proxy Data
Paleoclimate Records
Global Climate Modeling
Climate Projections
Climate Reconstructions
Scenario Development
Human Responses to Climate
Mitigation Strategies
Emissions Reduction
Carbon-free Energy
Land Use Changes
Carbon Capture and Storage
Adaptation Strategies
Retrofitting Infrastructure
New Infrastructure
Social Innovation
Risk Management
Personal Responsibility
Nature of Climate Science
Process of Science
Common Misconceptions
Energy Use
Carbon Capture and Storage
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear Energy
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Other Alternatives
Efficiency and Conservation
Usage Trends
Energy Policy
Energy Infrastructure
Climate Impacts
Sea Level Rise
Extreme Weather
Heavy Precipitation/Floods
Heat Waves
Drought
Hurricanes and Storms
Ecosystem Changes
Plants and Animals
Melting Ice and Permafrost
Ocean Warming / Acidification
Availability of Water Resources
Drought
Agricultural Changes / Food Security
National Security
Public Health
Economic Impacts
Categories
News
How the Climate System Works
Climate Change & Global Warming
Natural Climate Patterns
Climate Impacts
Observing & Predicting
Policy & Planning
Extreme Events
Date
Past 30 Days
Past 6 months
Past year
Past 3 years
Authors
Aaron Levine
Adam B. Smith
Adam Lang
Adam Sobel
Ahira Sánchez-Lugo
Alison Stevens
Allison Gillespie
Amara Huddleston
Amber Liggett
American Meteorological Society
Amy Butler
Amy Dusto
Amy Solomon
Analise Keeney
Ángel Muñoz
Anthony Arguez
Anthony Barnston
Arezu Sarvestani
Arron Layns
Art DeGaetano
Ashley Miller
Audra Luscher
Audrey Rubel
Barb Deluisi
Benjamin Kirtman
Breanna Zavadoff
Brian Brettschneider
Brian Kahn
Bruce Bauer
Caitlin Coomber
Caitlin Valentine
Caitlyn Kennedy
Carl Schreck
Chiara Lepore
Chris Fenimore
Chris Landsea
Chris Zervas
Christina Dierkes
Clara Deck
Climate.gov Staff
Cody Sullivan
Dale C. S. Destin
Dan Stillman
Daniel Strain
Daniel Vimont
David G. Gordon
David Herring
Deborah Seiler
Deke Arndt
Dennis Hartmann
Derek Lemoine
Dr. Andrew Watkins
Emily Becker
Emily Greenhalgh
Emily Harwitz
Eric Guilyardi
Erica Goldman
Esperanza Stancioff
Esther Conrad
Fiona Martin
Francesco Fiondella
Franz Philip Tuchen (Cooperative Institute For Marine And Atmospheric Studies)
Gabe Vecchi
Gerry Bell
Gil Compo
GIllen Curren
Global Precipitation Climatology Project
Global Precipitation Climatology Project (University of Maryland)
Greg Dusek
Haley Thiem
Hanna Goss
Hannah Bao
Holly White
Hunter Allen
International Arctic Research Center
Jake Crouch
Jane Palmer
Jared Rennie
Jasmine Blackwell
Jason Furtado
Jay Lawrimore
Jennifer Dorton
Jennifer Freeman
Jeremy Hoffman
Jess Whitehead
Jessica Blunden
Jessica Mkitarian
Jingru Sun
John Allen
John Callahan
John Dos Passos Coggin
John Marra
Jon Gottschalck
Julia Engdahl
Julie Leibach
Kai-Chih Tseng
Karen Holcomb
Karen Kavanaugh
Karin Gleason
Katherine Silverstein
Kathryn Hansen (NASA Earth Observatory)
Kathy Lynn
Katy Human
Katy Vincent
Ken Takahashi
Kim Cobb
Kitty Fahey
Kris Karnauskas
Laura Ciasto
Laura Newcomb
Linda Joy
LuAnn Dahlman
Margaret Walls
Maria-Jose Viñas
Mary Lindsey
Marybeth Arcodia
Mat Collins
Matthew Rosencrans
Maya V. Chung
Meagan Singer
Melissa DeFrancesco
Miakah Nix
Michael K. Tippett
Michael Kruk
Michael McPhaden
Michael Palecki
Michael Tippett
Michael W. Fincham
Michelle L'Heureux
Michelle L'Heureux and Brian Brettschneider
Michon Scott
Mike Carlowicz
Mike Halpert
Mike Squires
Monica Allen
Nat Johnson
Natalie Umphlett
Nathan Murry
National Climate Assessment
National Snow and Ice Data Center
National Weather Service
National Weather Service Alaska Region
Ned Gardiner
NOAA Climate Prediction Center
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Peg Van Patten
Phil Klotzbach
Rachel Brittin
Rebecca Lindsey
Ricardo Torrijo
Richard Allan
Rick Thoman
Roberto Molar-Candanosa
S.-Y. Simon Wang
Sang-Ki Lee
Sarah Kapnick
Shang-Ping Xie
Stephen Baxter
Sukyoung Lee
Susan Osborne
Theo Stein
Tim Briggs
Tim DelSole
Tim Woollings
Tom Di Liberto
Tom Knutson
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
Ulla Heede
Weston Anderson
William Sweet
Zack Guido
Zoe Hoyle
Climate Q&A
Myths, misconceptions, and questions about climate
1-10 of 46 results
What's the hottest Earth's ever been?
Michon Scott, Rebecca Lindsey |
November 22, 2023
Earth’s hottest periods occurred before humans existed. Those ancient climates would have been like nothing our species has ever seen.
Does it matter how much the United States reduces its carbon dioxide emissions if China doesn't do the same?
Michon Scott |
August 30, 2023
China has overtaken the U.S. as the largest annual emitter, but all countries have to reduce their emissions if we want to stop further global warming. Every fraction of a degree of warming we avoid lowers the risks to people and other life on Earth.
If carbon dioxide hits a new high every year, why isn't every year hotter than the last?
Rebecca Lindsey |
May 12, 2023
Thanks to the global oceans, Earth's surface temperature doesn't react instantly to the full impact of a climate disturbance. That delayed reaction has pros and cons.
If the globe is still warming, then why are some locations not warming while others have experienced cooling?
David Herring |
October 12, 2022
Differences in exposure to sunlight, cloud cover, atmospheric circulation patterns, and other factors influence whether and how much a location is warming or cooling.
Can we slow or even reverse global warming?
David Herring, Rebecca Lindsey |
October 12, 2022
While we cannot stop global warming overnight, or even over the next several decades, we can slow the rate and limit the amount of global warming by reducing human emissions of heat-trapping gases and soot.
What evidence exists that Earth is warming and that humans are the main cause?
David Herring, Rebecca Lindsey |
October 12, 2022
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that Earth is warming and a preponderance of scientific evidence that human activities are the main cause.
How do we know the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is caused by humans?
Rebecca Lindsey |
October 12, 2022
Fossil fuels are the only source of carbon dioxide large enough to raise atmospheric carbon dioxide amounts so high so quickly.
¿Por qué fiarnos de las proyecciones climáticas que hacen los científicos para dentro de 50 o 100 años cuando no se puede pronosticar con precisión el tiempo que hará dentro de más de 2 semanas?
Rebecca Lindsey, David Herring, Ricardo Torrijo |
July 13, 2022
En realidad, desde diversos puntos de vista, es más difícil pronosticar el tiempo para dentro de dos semanas que pronosticar el clima con décadas de anticipación.
What's the coldest the Earth's ever been?
Michon Scott |
February 18, 2021
Our planet’s history includes episodes of cold so extreme that glaciers reached sea level in equatorial regions.
¿Qué evidencia existe de que la Tierra se está calentando y que los humanos son la causa principal?
Rebecca Lindsey, David Herring |
December 16, 2020
Existen evidencias científicas abrumadoras de que la Tierra se está calentando y una preponderancia de pruebas científicas de que las actividades humanas son la causa principal.
Pagination
Current page
1
Page
2
Page
3
Page
4
Page
5
Next page
Next ›
Last page
Last »