K. Haustein, M. R. Allen, P. M. Forster, F. E. L. Otto, D. M. Mitchell, H. D. Matthews & D. J. Frame

Nature

Published date November 13, 2017

A real-time Global Warming Index

  • Proposes a simple real-time index of global human-induced warming and assess its robustness to uncertainties in climate forcing and short-term climate fluctuations
  • This index provides improved scientific context for temperature stabilisation targets and has the potential to decrease the volatility of climate policy
  • Quantifies uncertainties arising from temperature observations, climate radiative forcings, internal variability and the model response
  • The index and the associated rate of human-induced warming is compatible with a range of other more sophisticated methods to estimate the human contribution to observed global temperature change