Illustration introducing the GloSAT Global Surface Air Temperature project

The illustration shows that the GloSAT project extends the global temperature record back into the eighteenth century. Other global temperature datasets start in 1850 or later. Extending the record back to the eighteenth century is of interest because the early nineteenth century was marked by some of the largest volcanic eruptions of the past 500 years. A longer record can also help to inform how much climate has changed since pre-industrial times which can help to understand progress relative to the Paris Agreement goals. GloSAT is also the first modern global temperature dataset to combine land surface air temperatures with marine air temperatures (GSAT: Global Surface Air temperatures), providing estimated air temperature across both land and oceans. Most datasets use sea surface temperature over the oceans (GMST: Global mean surface temperature), potentially helping to understand modelled differences between GSAT and GMST. Finally, a longer record with minimal anthropogenic forcing will help to understand the effects of natural variability.

More information can be found on the GloSAT project website (www.glosat.org)

Data are from the WMO Dashboard Global mean temperature 1850-2024 and code used is available from https://github.com/jjk-code-otter/glosat-graphics