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Document Title: Effects of an increase in mean temperature (DI02412)
Description: As this graphic indicates, a small shift in average temperatures can result in a significant number of record heat events. The two curves illustrate how a minor increase in average temperatures can have a much greater impact at the edges, or “tails,” of the curve. “A relatively small shift in the average produces a large change in extremes,” explains NCAR scientist Jerry Meehl, who created an earlier version of the graphic. “If you shift the whole distribution a little to the right you have more extreme heat. The tail on the far right moves into uncharted territory, breaking new heat records.
For more information: A tail of record heat
Creditline: copyright University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Keywords: DI02412,Jerry Meehl,climate change,heat,mean temperature
Filename: DI02412.jpg