You may have heard stories in the media referring to a “pause” in global warming or that global warming has taken a “hiatus.” These terms have usually been used to argue that climate change in the future won’t be as serious as previously projected, so perhaps we don’t have anything to worry about.

James McCarthy, Professor of Biological Oceanography for Harvard University’s Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, discusses why this so-called pause in global warming is referred to as the “Faux Pause.” Because it is, in fact, a faux pas—or blunder—to assume that warming has slowed substantially. But how do we know?

Watch this video to understand:
• How does the ocean play a role in global warming?
• How do we measure the temperature of the ocean?
• What is the Argo Buoy network?
• What role does Arctic ice play as an indicator of global warming?
• How are sea-level rise and Arctic ice melting indicators of global warming?
• How do the earth’s natural cycles influence what we feel on the surface of the earth?
• How does El Nino impact what we feel on the surface of the earth?

Website: www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/
Twitter: twitter.com/HarvardCCHANGE
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HarvardCCHANGE/

The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE) at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health increases public awareness of the health impacts of climate change and uses science to make it personal, actionable, and urgent. Led by former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and Co-director Dr. Aaron Bernstein, the Center leverages Harvard’s cutting-edge research to inform policies, technologies, and products that reduce air pollution and other causes of climate change.

Mail:
401 Park Drive
4th Fl. West, Suite 415
Boston, MA 02215

Phone: +1 (617) 495‑1000