Emperor penguins walk across sea ice near Ross Island, Antarctica, in this 2012 photo released by Thomas Beer. The continent's pristine habitat provides a laboratory for scientists studying the effects of climate change. (Courtesy Thomas Beer/AP/File)
12:42 pm ET -An international study used tree rings and pollen to build the first record of global climate change, continent by continent, over 2,000 years.
Top Global Warming (View all)
- Antarctic ice tells conflicting story about climate change's role in big melt
- China temperature spikes linked to burning of fossil fuels
- Fasten seatbelts, air passengers. Climate change ahead.
- Global temperature rise is fastest in at least 11,000 years, study says
- Global warming: Yet another threat to Southwest's iconic pinyon pine?
- Are human-caused and natural global warming different? Study says yes.
- Tornado threat: How are January tornadoes possible? (+video)
- Andes glaciers melting at record rates
- How hot was 2012? Hottest on record in US, by a long shot (+video)
- West Antarctica warming much faster than expected
More Global Warming
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India tests ways to help farmers cope with climate change
Concerns about how climate change may be affecting India are bringing fresh urgency – and funding – to longstanding challenges in sustainable agriculture.
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Carbon tax: It's not coming soon
A US carbon tax would raise revenue for the federal government. But there are three reasons a carbon tax won't be part of any budget compromise in the next few weeks.
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Are polar ice sheets shrinking? Report offers definitive answer at last.
Numerous studies in recent years have offered different – and sometimes conflicting – views about ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. But a new report offers unprecedented scope.
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UN: 2012 was one of the hottest years ever
Climate Change Conference-goers in Doha learned Wednesday that 2012 will go down as one of the hottest years on record. A provisional statement by the UN warns of rising temperatures and melting ice.
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Why greenhouse gases hit record high in 2011
Carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities, reached 390.9 parts per million last year, or 40 percent above the pre-industrial level, the World Meteorological Organization said. It cited fossil fuel as the primary source.
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World Bank: Tackle warming or poverty remains
Climate change will hit all nations, but especially the poor ones, says new World Bank report. Warming could flood Vietnam and Bangladesh, dry out other areas, causing water scarcity.
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Focus
How will New York keep out a rising sea? Dikes, huge sea wall, oyster beds?After superstorm Sandy, New York officials look for long-term solutions against future floods from storm surges. Many options, little consensus.
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Appearance of explosive WWI relics underscores Alps glaciers' retreat
The Alps' glaciers are in retreat at an alarming rate due to rising temperatures – as indicated by the discovery of rusted explosives left over from a nearly hundred-year-old cache.
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Blocking patterns: How global warming might have worsened US drought
Two teams of researchers find that subtle changes brought about by global warming might be amplifying atmospheric blocking patterns, which keep weather conditions in place for a long time.
- Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 4 ways they differ on climate change
As recently as 2008, presidential candidates openly sparred over their own plans for dealing with climate change. This year it's such a touchy topic that both sides prefer instead to talk about energy policy – a kind of proxy. Here are four ways the candidates differ.
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