Scientists have been studying the relationship between global climate and carbon in the atmosphere for more than a century, with a growing understanding of the massive, inadvertent experiment we’re conducting with our planet. The picture is clear: carbon dioxide released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels—oil, gas, and coal—is changing the world’s climate.

Explore a small part of the scientific data from different realms being affected by climate change: the Atmosphere, Oceans and Water, Ice, and Land and Living Systems. In the Looking Ahead section, you can explore what computer models tell us about our climate’s future, and how that may impact society. And you’ll begin to learn what can be done to slow down and adapt to climate change.