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| titletext = [After setting your car on fire] Listen, your car's temperature has changed before. | | titletext = [After setting your car on fire] Listen, your car's temperature has changed before. | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | + | ||
+ | ==Explanation== | ||
{{TOC}} | {{TOC}} | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|[[#Table of all elements|Table for explanations]] now ready to be filled out. Please remove this tag only when everything is explained.}} | |
− | This | + | In the past 100 years, human action produced lots of {{w|CO₂ emissions}}, which have caused a rise in average global temperature through the {{w|greenhouse effect}}. This is called {{w|global warming}} and is part of a {{w|climate change}}, a subject that has become a [[:Category:Climate change|recurrent subject]] on xkcd. There are still many people who claim that this is not happening, or at least that it is not caused by any human actions, called {{w|Climate change denial|climate change deniers}}. One argument of theirs is that global warming is happening for natural causes, summarized with the phrase "temperature has changed before". This comic is a direct, but much more thorough, follow up on the previous global warming comic: [[1379: 4.5 Degrees]]. |
− | + | This comic shows that while temperature changes have indeed occurred before, the speed of the current temperature rise is much, much faster than those seen (actually: estimated) in the previous thousands of years. It seemed to touch on something in peoples consciousness, because it became so popular that [[Randall]] [[#Popularity_of_comic|postponed the release]] of his next comic to keep this one on the front page one day longer. | |
− | This comic | + | This comic is a [[:Category:Timelines|timeline]] on how the temperature has changed since 20,000 BCE (Before {{w|Common Era}}) to the present day and extrapolated 84 years on from present day of the release of the comic (2016) to 2100 {{w|Common Era|CE}} depending on the choice of actions to stop CO₂ emission that is taken now or never. It is meant to contrast the slow-paced natural changes with the rapid temperature rise in the recent years. The effect is achieved by forcing the reader to scroll endlessly through slow, building-up changes and then face them with an almost instantaneous, quick rise towards the end. The temperature curve is a dotted line most of the time, but from about 1850 to present day (2016) the measurement data is good enough to let the curve become a solid line indicating that this is not an estimate. Before 1850 the temperature is an estimate based on the [[#Sources|sources]] given. And likewise into the future the curve is also dotted as this is predictions. And here there are even three possible outcomes depending on how seriously politicians and other influential people (and the population of Earth) take knowledge (and comics) like this. |
− | + | Although this is a topic Randall obviously takes very seriously, and by far most of the facts fit with known history, he still includes several jokes in the comic (see [[#Jokes in the comic|list below]]) He even included one at the base of the comic where the serious human caused temperature increase is at display. By placing the invention of the {{w|internet}} at 1990 in the chart, just where the temperature curve starts its most rapid increase, he humorously implies that the internet caused the rise in temperature. Randall has before been after incidents where cause and effects like this has been used without any proof that it was not a coincidence. | |
− | + | Below in the [[#Table of all elements|table]] each entry will be noted and explained (in time). This is one of the comics where Randall cites his [[#Sources|sources]] like he did for one of his other very large comics [[980: Money]]. | |
− | The title text compares the saying that "the temperature has changed before" comparing temperature changes over thousands of years to the rapid global warming over the last century with saying that the "small" changes to the temperature a car experiences over the years of normal usage should not make you worried over the rapid temperature increase that happens when someone sets your car on fire. | + | The title text compares the saying that "the temperature has changed before" comparing temperature changes over thousands of years to the rapid global warming over the last century with saying that the "small" changes to the temperature a car experiences over the years of normal usage should not make you worried over the rapid temperature increase that happens when someone sets your car on fire. A related joke was used recently in [[1693: Oxidation]]. |
===Jokes in the comic=== | ===Jokes in the comic=== | ||
− | * | + | *Above the joke about the internet causing the global warming is mentioned. |
− | * | + | *Other "silly" jokes included in the comic are: |
− | * At | + | **At 13600 BCE it is mentioned that {{w|origin of the domestic dog|humans domesticate dogs}}. [[Megan]] talks to a wolf about to be tamed making a deal with it, that it can eat and sleep with the humans as long as they can yell at it for pooping indoor. This sounds like a sweat deal for the wolf until [[Cueball]] mentions that they will {{w|Dog breeding|breed}} it to be {{w|Chihuahua (dog)|very small}} and then dress it up in small {{w|Dog's fashion|costumes}}. The wolf says wait, but it is already too late... |
− | * The {{w|Pokémon}} reference at 9000 BCE about them going extinct in North America (although Megan | + | **The {{w|Pokémon}} reference at 9000 BCE about them going extinct in North America (although Megan does proclaim that this is not a real fact). As the writing stated that ''Pokémon go extinct'' this can also be seen as a reference to the recently released {{w|Pokémon Go}} game and hence also the recent comic [[1705: Pokémon Go]]. |
− | * At 4500 BCE, next to "{{w|Proto-Indo-European language}} develops", [[Ponytail]] gets the idea to develop the language heavily inflected to make it difficult to remember all the verb endings for future students. | + | **At 4500 BCE, next to "{{w|Proto-Indo-European language}} develops", [[Ponytail]] gets the idea to develop the language heavily inflected to make it difficult to remember all the verb endings for future students. A direct reference to the recent comic [[1709: Inflection]]. |
− | * The reference to the | + | **The reference to the {{w|mockumentary}} about the fake rock band {{w|This Is Spinal Tap}} in conjunction with {{w|Stonehenge}} at 2300 BCE. In the movie the band ordered a giant 18 feet Stonehenge megalith but a writing mistake gives them one that is only 18 inches high. |
− | **Another real band {{w|Nine Inch Nails}} is referenced | + | ***Another real band {{w|Nine Inch Nails}} is referenced 16000 BCE where Megan writes the bands stylized name NIИ on the wall next to [[Hairy]] who is in the process of painting the {{w|cave painting}} at {{w|Lascaux}} in France. |
− | * Around the setting of the {{w|Iliad}} and the {{w|Odyssey}} (1200 BCE) a drawing of the {{w|Trojan Horse}} has writing on it that states: ''Not a trap''. | + | **Around the setting of the {{w|Iliad}} and the {{w|Odyssey}} (1200 BCE) a drawing of the {{w|Trojan Horse}} has writing on it that states: ''Not a trap''. |
− | * Just below the previous entry also at | + | **Just below the previous entry also at 12000 BCE is the mentioning of the invasion of the {{w|Sea Peoples}}. This sounds so much like a reference to {{w|Mermaid|mermaids}}, often called {{w|Mermaid#One_Thousand_and_One_Nights|sea people}} that Randall feels the need to note that this invasion and these sea people is ''a real thing'' in a foot note. This is opposed to the Pokémon reference above where he notes that it is ''not a real fact''. The sea people was a seafaring confederation of groups known to have attacked ancient Egypt around this time. |
− | * | + | **At 500 BCE a reference to the {{w|Battle of Thermopylae}} (also known as 300 Spartans) he references this by comparing the event with the 2007 movie ''{{w|300 (film)|300}}'' about this battle. But notes that in the real world the fighting of course occurred at regular speed and that they probably had more clothing on in the real world than in the fictionalized action movie. |
− | *There are other minor jokes but this list | + | *There are other minor jokes but this list mentiones all the major jokes. |
===Table of all elements=== | ===Table of all elements=== | ||
− | *Here is table | + | *Here is table (to be filled out) of all elements with explanations including reading of temperature and year for each event from the curve. |
+ | *Table ready for use: | ||
**The year group is just an easy way to find the section. | **The year group is just an easy way to find the section. | ||
− | + | **The actual year of an event should be read off more precisely on the chart. | |
− | **The actual year of an event | + | ***Suggestion for doing this: |
− | *** | + | ***Top part of element |
− | *** | + | ***Central part of element |
− | *** | + | ***Other? |
− | **T (°C) is the number of degrees | + | **Element is a description mainly taken from the transcript. Feel free to remove redundant information, but the guess was that getting the table ready was the most important feature for getting the explanation started. |
− | + | **T (°C) is the number of degrees above or below the 1961-1990 average, which on this graph is set to zero.. (i.e. not the number of physical degrees above or below 0°C). | |
− | + | **Explanation explains itself. | |
− | **Explanation | + | {| class="wikitable" |
− | {| class="wikitable | ||
!Year group | !Year group | ||
!Element | !Element | ||
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!Explanation | !Explanation | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 20000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 20000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [An arrow goes from the dotted line to the central line at 0°C (representing the 1961-1990 average). In the middle of the line there is a temperature label:] 4.3°C<br>At the start of our timeline, 22,000 years ago, Earth is 4°C colder than during the late 20<sup>th</sup> century. || 20000 BCE || -4.3 || The | + | | [An arrow goes from the dotted line to the central line at 0°C (representing the 1961-1990 average). In the middle of the line there is a temperature label:] 4.3°C<br>At the start of our timeline, 22,000 years ago, Earth is 4°C colder than during the late 20<sup>th</sup> century. || 20000 BCE || -4.3 || The temperature at the beginning of the chart compared to the average from 1961-1990 that in general are used to compare temperatures with today as well as in the rest of this chart. As a rule {{w|climate}} changes are compared with a 30 year interval, and {{w|Climate#Definition|recently}} the 1961-1990 average was chosen as the "normal" to compare temperature changes with. The timeline staring at 20,000 BCE fits with Wikipedia's article on {{w|Last glacial period}} (or the last ice age) stating that the the maximum extent of {{w|glaciation}} was approximately 22,000 years ago. However, in the article on the {{w|Last Glacial Maximum}} it states that this maximum occurred 24,500 BCE 4,500 years before the other article (even though they link to each other). |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Boston}} is buried under almost a mile of ice, and the {{w|glaciers}} reach as far south as {{w|New York City}}.<br> [The Statue of Liberty is shown in front of a glacier front. | + | | {{w|Boston}} is buried under almost a mile of ice, and the {{w|glaciers}} reach as far south as {{w|New York City}}.<br> [The Statue of Liberty is shown in front of a glacier front. A guy with a white {{w|knit cap}} is seen walking in a snowy landscape. The skyline of Boston is shown under a half a mile of ice.] || 19700 BCE || -4.3 || The Boston image is directly taken from [[1225: Ice Sheets]] about the ice age glacier coverage and the guy with the white knit cap could be the guy from [[1321: Cold]] also about global warming. It shows what a difference 4 degree in global temperature means (massive effect), as opposed to what four degree means on a daily weather wise scale (nothing!). [[Randall]] lives in Boston. It was also shown buried in ice in [[1379: 4.5 Degrees]]. Knit caps have only been used a few times in xkcd, most prominently on [[1350:_Lorenz#Knit_Cap_Girl|Knit Cap Girl]] in [[1350: Lorenz]], see her section for more details. |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="3"| 19500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="3"| 19500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | But the world is about to warm up. || 19500 BCE|| -4.3 || The warming process actually takes thousands of years, which this comic will portray down thousands of pixels to come | + | | But the world is about to warm up. || 19500 BCE|| -4.3 || The warming process actually takes thousands of years, which this comic will portray down thousands of pixels to come. |
|- | |- | ||
| By this time, humans have already spread across {{w|Africa}}, {{w|Eurasia}}, and {{w|Australia}}. || 19300 BCE || -4.3 || {{w|Homo Sapiens}} successfully {{w|Recent_African_origin_of_modern_humans#Movement_out_of_Africa|migrated out of Africa}} somewhere between {{w|Recent_African_origin_of_modern_humans#Dating:_pre-or_post-Toba|130,000}} and {{w|Recent_African_origin_of_modern_humans#Coastal_route|70,000}} BCE. | | By this time, humans have already spread across {{w|Africa}}, {{w|Eurasia}}, and {{w|Australia}}. || 19300 BCE || -4.3 || {{w|Homo Sapiens}} successfully {{w|Recent_African_origin_of_modern_humans#Movement_out_of_Africa|migrated out of Africa}} somewhere between {{w|Recent_African_origin_of_modern_humans#Dating:_pre-or_post-Toba|130,000}} and {{w|Recent_African_origin_of_modern_humans#Coastal_route|70,000}} BCE. | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 19000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 19000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Changes in the Earth’s orbit mean that more sunlight reaches the polar ice… || 18600 BCE || -4.2 ||{{w|Milankovitch cycles}} are repeated climate variations on a timescale of tens of millennia caused by cyclic variations in {{w|Orbital eccentricity|eccentricity}}, {{w|axial tilt}}, and {{w|precession}} of the {{w|Earth's orbit}}, which thus then determined climatic patterns on Earth. | + | | Changes in the Earth’s orbit mean that more sunlight reaches the polar ice… || 18600 BCE || -4.2 ||{{w|Milankovitch cycles}} are repeated climate variations on a timescale of tens of millennia caused by cyclic variations in {{w|Orbital eccentricity|eccentricity}}, {{w|axial tilt}}, and {{w|precession}} of the {{w|Earth's orbit}}, which thus then determined climatic patterns on Earth. At this time the cycles reaches a point where more sun reached the polar ice and this will begin the melting that (after thousands of years) ends the glaciation. Next to this is a chart showing the solar input, see next entry. |
|- | |- | ||
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− | | rowspan="1"| 18500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 18500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [A map of the world. At the top is a light gray area covering | + | | [A map of the world. At the top is a light gray area covering North America, Greenland and northern Europe and most of the northern part of Russia. A similar gray area covers Antarctica. The gray areas are labeled as ice.] || 18300 BCE || -4.2 || |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 18000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 18000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | …And the ice sheets start to melt. || 17900 BCE || -4.1 || | + | | …And the ice sheets start to melt. || 17900 BCE || -4.1 || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 17500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 17500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Temperatures have been creeping upward, but around this point, CO<sub>2</sub> levels start to climb…|| 17300 BCE || -4.1 || | + | | Temperatures have been creeping upward, but around this point, CO<sub>2</sub> levels start to climb…|| 17300 BCE || -4.1 || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 17000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 17000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | …And then the warming speeds up. || 16700 BCE || -4.1 || | + | | …And then the warming speeds up. || 16700 BCE || -4.1 || Sarcasm about the rate of natural climate change compared to modern anthropogenic warming. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 16500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 16500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [Cueball is standing with a spear just the right of the graph talking to a rabbit.]<br>Cueball: Still pretty cold. || 16200 BCE || -4.0 || True, because although the temperature has risen with 0.3°C over the last 4000 years | + | | [Cueball is standing with a spear just the right of the graph talking to a rabbit.]<br>Cueball: Still pretty cold. || 16200 BCE || -4.0 || True, because although the temperature has risen with 0.3°C over the last 4000 years the temperature is still 4°C below the 1961-1990 average. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 16000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 16000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [Megan | + | | [Megan points to the graph to the right of her and between her and Ponytail standing on the other side. Mean is the first drawing on the left side of the dotted curve, which has hardly moved since the beginning, only to just on the other side of 4°C below the 1961-1990 average.] || 15600 BCE || -3.9 || Megan seems to be pushing the temperature up, and this is the first time the temperature is less than 4°C below the 1961-1990 average. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [In the right part of the chart is an explanation of the data. Below the first two lines there are four drawings each showing possible temperature swings in reality compared to the smoothed data that represents the dotted curve of the entire chart. The dotted curve is shown in all four drawings and a thin line is shown running along it but with much more fluctuation left and right on the first two, a large spike right on the third and a large bump way right on the fourth. Above these there are two labels. The first labels is inside a bracket that covers the first three, and the last label is for the last drawing. Below is a list of sources.] <br>Limits of this data: <br> Short warming or cooling spikes might be “smoothed out” by these reconstructions but only if they’re small or brief enough. <br> Possible Unlikely<br>Reconstructions are from Shakun (2012) and Marcott (2013), scaled to Annan + Hargreaves (2013) estimate for the last glacial period. || 15600 BCE || -3.9 || This is Randall's pre-emptive response to skepticism about the accuracy of prehistoric data. | + | | [In the right part of the chart is an explanation of the data. Below the first two lines there are four drawings each showing possible temperature swings in reality compared to the smoothed data that represents the dotted curve of the entire chart. The dotted curve is shown in all four drawings and a thin line is shown running along it but with much more fluctuation left and right on the first two, a large spike right on the third and a large bump way right on the fourth. Above these there are two labels. The first labels is inside a bracket that covers the first three, and the last label is for the last drawing. Below is a list of sources.] <br>Limits of this data: <br> Short warming or cooling spikes might be “smoothed out” by these reconstructions but only if they’re small or brief enough. <br> Possible Unlikely<br>Reconstructions are from Shakun (2012) and Marcott (2013), scaled to Annan + Hargreaves (2013) estimate for the last glacial period. || 15600 BCE || -3.9 || This is Randall's pre-emptive response to skepticism about the accuracy of prehistoric data. Ice cores and similar records might miss individual year-to-year variation, but should catch sustained changes lasting many decades, which is the time scale that matters for climate. See links to the [[#Sources|sources below]]. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 15500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 15500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | In what is now | + | | In what is now France, humans paint murals on the walls of the Lascaux caves <br> [Hairy paints three animals, two with horns, and two humans, Cueball holding hand with Hairy who has a spear. On the other side of the central line Megan writes three letters, the last of which is reversed:] NIИ || 15200 BCE || -3.8 || A reference to the industrial techno band {{w|Nine Inch Nails}} as Megan writes the bands stylized name NIИ on the wall next to Hairy who is in the process of painting the {{w|cave painting}} at {{w|Lascaux}} in France. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 15000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 15000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Ice sheets around {{w|Alaska}} shrink, exposing a land bridge between Asia and North America <br> [From around the bottom if this section and down to 11500 BCE the dotted curve moved steadily to the right towards warmed temperature peaking close to 1.5°C below the 1961-1990 average. Before this the temperature had not moved much away from that at the start.] || 14600 BCE || -3.5 || This land bridge is known as {{w|Beringia}}. | + | | Ice sheets around {{w|Alaska}} shrink, exposing a land bridge between Asia and North America <br> [From around the bottom if this section and down to 11500 BCE the dotted curve moved steadily to the right towards warmed temperature peaking close to 1.5°C below the 1961-1990 average. Before this the temperature had not moved much away from that at the start.] || 14600 BCE || -3.5 || This land bridge is known as {{w|Beringia}}. |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 14500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 14500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [Cueball walks right looking back at the graph behind him. Megan walks in front of him pointing further right.]<br> Cueball: Cool.<br> Humans reach | + | | [Cueball walks right looking back at the graph behind him. Megan walks in front of him pointing further right.]<br>| Cueball: Cool.<br> Humans reach North America. || 14200 BCE || -3.3 || This is approximately when the ancestors of the Inuit crossed the land bridge from what is now Russia to what is now Alaska. However, evidence of humans in North America over 20,000 years ago suggests that humans reached North America by boat prior to the formation of the land bridge. Cueball's comment can either be directed at the fact that it was cool that people migrated this far, or it could be related to the fact that he looks back at the temperature curve and observes that even though the temperature has increased one degree since the start of the chart it is still 3.3°C below the 1961-1990 average, i.e. it is still very cold. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 14000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 14000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | The edge of the ice withdraws from | + | | The edge of the ice withdraws from New York City and retreats North. || 13700 BCE || -3.1 || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [A large glacier front speaks in a speech bubble with an arrow pointing at it. Behind is there are four peaks in the horizon and in front of it three small melting pools and some rocks on the ground.] <br> Glacier: ''That’s it! I’m moving to Canada!'' || 13600 BCE || -3.0 || When US citizens are unhappy with changes in their country, they sometimes say they will move to Canada in protest. Here it is the glacier that is | + | | [A large glacier front speaks in a speech bubble with an arrow pointing at it. Behind is there are four peaks in the horizon and in front of it three small melting pools and some rocks on the ground.] <br> Glacier: ''That’s it! I’m moving to Canada!'' || 13600 BCE || -3.0 || When US citizens are unhappy with changes in their country, they sometimes say they will move to Canada in protest. Here it is the glacier that is unhappy with the climate changes. And since the ice withdraws north when it gets hotter this glacier didn't have much of a choice. However this is a slow process and according to the chart the glacier first retreated over the Canadian border around 8400 BCE more than 5000 years later. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 13500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 13500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Humans domesticate dogs <br> (Date uncertain, may be much earlier) || 13400 BCE || -3.0 || See {{w|Origin of the domestic dog}}. | + | | Humans domesticate dogs <br> (Date uncertain, may be much earlier) || 13400 BCE || -3.0 || See {{w|Origin of the domestic dog}}. Here it is {{w|Origin_of_the_domestic_dog#Time_of_domestication|mentioned}} that {{w|dogs}} separated from {{w|wolfs}} about 23,500 years ago, but that there was an event around 15,000 years ago (13,00 BCE) which increased the population size and that may be attributable to domestication events. But if humans are responsible for the creation of the dog species it may have occurred several thousands of years before. |
|- | |- | ||
− | || [Megan and Cueball is watching a wolf looking at them.]<br>Megan: Okay, you can live in our homes and we’ll feed you, but we’ll still get mad if you poop on the floor. <br> Wolf: Deal. <br> Cueball: And we get to breed you to be tiny and dress you in little costumes. <br>Wolf: …Wait. || 13100 BCE || -2.8 || Megan is making a deal with the wolf that it can eat and sleep with the humans as long as they can yell at it for pooping indoor. This sounds like a | + | || [Megan and Cueball is watching a wolf looking at them.]<br>Megan: Okay, you can live in our homes and we’ll feed you, but we’ll still get mad if you poop on the floor. <br> Wolf: Deal. <br> Cueball: And we get to breed you to be tiny and dress you in little costumes. <br>Wolf: …Wait. || 13100 BCE || -2.8 || Megan is making a deal with the wolf that it can eat and sleep with the humans as long as they can yell at it for pooping indoor. This sounds like a sweat deal for the wolf until Cueball mentions that they will {{w|Dog breeding|breed}} it to be {{w|Chihuahua (dog)|very small}} and then dress it up in small {{w|Dog's fashion|costumes}}. The wolf says wait, but it is already too late... |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 13000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 13000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Woolly Rhino}} goes extinct || 12900 BCE || -2.7 || | + | | {{w|Woolly Rhino}} goes extinct || 12900 BCE || -2.7 || Actually only true for mainland woolly rhinos. Some survived on a small island until {{w|Woolly_rhinoceros#Extinction|around 8000 BCE}}. |
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | Oregon is scoured by huge floods as glacial dams burst and lakes of meltwater flow to the sea || 12600 BCE || -2.2 || See {{w|Missoula Floods}} | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 12500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 12500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Ice sheets withdraw from Chicago || 12200 BCE || -1.8 || | + | | Ice sheets withdraw from Chicago || 12200 BCE || -1.8 || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 12000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 12000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Humans settle {{w|Abu Hureyra}} in {{w|Syria}} || 11550 BCE || -1.6 || A well-preserved prehistoric village that | + | | Humans settle {{w|Abu Hureyra}} in {{w|Syria}} || 11550 BCE || -1.6 || A well-preserved prehistoric village that lasted over 4000 years, allowing archaeologists to study how their culture developed. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 11500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 11500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [An arrow on the left side of the dotted curve is pointing down along the dotted curve and to the left indicate temperature is declining again, meaning the dotted curve now moves left to colder temperatures. This only continues until 10500 BCE. It is only the second time something is noted on the left side after Megan at 16000 BCE] <br> Temperatures start to decline, mainly in the Northern hemisphere<br> This may be caused by changes in ocean circulation due to the floods of cold fresh meltwater flowing into the Atlantic as the North American ice sheet melts. <br> This cooler period is called the {{w|Younger Dryas}} || 11300 BCE || -1.6 || | + | | [An arrow on the left side of the dotted curve is pointing down along the dotted curve and to the left indicate temperature is declining again, meaning the dotted curve now moves left to colder temperatures. This only continues until 10500 BCE. It is only the second time something is noted on the left side after Megan at 16000 BCE] <br> Temperatures start to decline, mainly in the Northern hemisphere<br> This may be caused by changes in ocean circulation due to the floods of cold fresh meltwater flowing into the Atlantic as the North American ice sheet melts. <br> This cooler period is called the {{w|Younger Dryas}} || 11300 BCE || -1.6 || The temperature almost reached 1.5°C below the 1961-1990 average before it got colder. The mentioning of the melting water causing a cooling in the northern hemisphere references a similar event that could also happen today. If the ice on Greenland melts too quickly it could mess the pump that runs the {{w|Gulf Stream}} and cause a {{w|shutdown of thermohaline circulation}}, which would actually end up cooling Europe, especially the northern part and the British Island (and everything in the North Atlantic), in spite of possibly still generally increasing temperatures on a global scale. This could be a major problem for farming in Europe! The movie {{w|The Day After Tomorrow}} was based on this shutdown, although it then took it to an (impossible) extreme with super cyclones that cooled down the entire northern hemisphere into an ice age in a few days... In the Younger Dryas this effect caused the Earth to cool down less than one degree over 1000 years before the warm up began again. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 11000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 11000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [This is the first text to the left of the dotted curve:] <br> Humans reach {{w|Argentina}} || 10900 BCE || -1.8 || | + | | [This is the first text to the left of the dotted curve:] <br> Humans reach {{w|Argentina}} || 10900 BCE || -1.8 || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 10500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 10500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [An arrow pointing down along the right side of the dotted curve and to the right indicate temperature is increasing again, meaning the dotted curve now moves right to hotter temperatures. This continues until 8000 BCE where it levels out just above the 1961-1990 average.] <br> Warming resumes || | + | | [An arrow pointing down along the right side of the dotted curve and to the right indicate temperature is increasing again, meaning the dotted curve now moves right to hotter temperatures. This continues until 8000 BCE where it levels out just above the 1961-1990 average.] <br> Warming resumes || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Human settlements at {{w|Jericho}} || | + | | Human settlements at {{w|Jericho}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 10000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 10000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | First development of | + | | First development of farming || || || See {{w|History of agriculture}} |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 9500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 9500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Saber-toothed cat}} goes extinct || | + | | {{w|Saber-toothed cat}} goes extinct || || || They were not tigers. |
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | Horses disappear from North America || || || The {{w|evolution of the horse}} began millions of years ago in North America; early species migrated across {{w|Beringia}} into Eurasia. | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="4"| 9000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="4"| 9000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | | Last North American | + | | | Last North American Pokémon go extinct <br> [Cueball with a spear and Megan is looking up at this last “fact”.] <br> Megan: That is not a real fact. || || || As prehistoric [[Megan]] states, this is not a real fact. Pokémon are still thriving throughout the entire world (see [[1705: Pokémon Go]]), and are most commonly found near [http://time.com/4443225/pokemon-go-affluent-white-neighborhoods-report/ affluent first world neighborhoods]. |
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Temperatures reach modern levels || | + | | Temperatures reach modern levels || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Rising seas cut off the {{w|land bridge}} between North America and Asia || | + | | Rising seas cut off the {{w|land bridge}} between North America and Asia || || || |
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Cattle}} domesticated || | + | | {{w|Cattle}} domesticated || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 8500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 8500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Ice sheets retreat across the Canadian border || | + | | Ice sheets retreat across the Canadian border || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Temperatures start to level out slightly above 1961-1990 levels || | + | | Temperatures start to level out slightly above 1961-1990 levels || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 8000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 8000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [The above sentence breaks over the 8000 <small>BCE</small> line. From here a maximum in temperature on the chart is reached at 0.5°C above the 1961-1990 average, which will not be overtaken until 2000 CE. It stays almost constant here until 5000 BCE where a slight cooling begins.] || | + | | [The above sentence breaks over the 8000 <small>BCE</small> line. From here a maximum in temperature on the chart is reached at 0.5°C above the 1961-1990 average, which will not be overtaken until 2000 CE. It stays almost constant here until 5000 BCE where a slight cooling begins.] || || || |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 7500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 7500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | This warm, stable period is called the {{w|Holocene Climate Optimum}} || | + | | This warm, stable period is called the {{w|Holocene Climate Optimum}} || || || Some skeptics like to say "[http://www.skepticalscience.com/10000-years-warmer.htm it was warmer in the Holocene]." This is no longer true. Global temperature began encroaching Holocene levels in 1998, and has equalled or possibly exceeded them since 2014. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Jiahu}} settled in China || | + | | {{w|Jiahu}} settled in China || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 7000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 7000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Final collapse of the North American ice sheet leads to rapid 2-4m sea level rise… || | + | | Final collapse of the North American ice sheet leads to rapid 2-4m sea level rise… || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [A small arrow points down and left to the right of the dotted curve. There is a small decrease in temperature but it is very small and would have been missed without the arrow and label.] <br>…And a period of cooling in the Northern hemisphere || | + | | [A small arrow points down and left to the right of the dotted curve. There is a small decrease in temperature but it is very small and would have been missed without the arrow and label.] <br>…And a period of cooling in the Northern hemisphere || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 6500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 6500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | As seas rise to near their modern levels, Britain is cut off from mainland Europe || | + | | As seas rise to near their modern levels, Britain is cut off from mainland Europe || || || This is a reference to the flooding of {{w|Doggerland}}. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1"| 6000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="1"| 6000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Humans develop copper metalworking || | + | | Humans develop copper metalworking || || || The {{w|copper age}} was relatively brief before humans discovered how to make {{w|bronze}}. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 5500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 5500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Massive volcanic eruption in | + | | Massive volcanic eruption in Oregon creates crater lake || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Gold}} metalworking || | + | | {{w|Gold}} metalworking || || || Ooh, shiny! |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 5000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 5000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Invention of the wheel}} || | + | | {{w|Invention of the wheel}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [To the right of the dotted curve is an arrow pointing down and slightly left. From here temperature decreases very slowly but steadily from 0.5°C above the 1961-1990 average until 1000 BCE where a stable plateau is reached around the 1961-1990 average.] <br> Earth begins to cool slowly mainly due to regular cycles in its orbit || | + | | [To the right of the dotted curve is an arrow pointing down and slightly left. From here temperature decreases very slowly but steadily from 0.5°C above the 1961-1990 average until 1000 BCE where a stable plateau is reached around the 1961-1990 average.] <br> Earth begins to cool slowly mainly due to regular cycles in its orbit || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="3"| 4500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="3"| 4500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Proto-Indo-European language}} develops || | + | | {{w|Proto-Indo-European language}} develops || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [To the right of the curve Ponytail holds up a hand towards Cueball.]<br> Ponytail: Let’s make | + | | [To the right of the curve Ponytail holds up a hand towards Cueball.]<br> Ponytail: Let’s make out language heavily inflected, so future students have to memorize a zillion verb endings!<br> Cueball: Okay! || || ||[[Ponytail]] refers to [[1709: Inflection]]. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Permanent settlements in the {{w|fertile crescent}} || | + | | Permanent settlements in the {{w|fertile crescent}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 4000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 4000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | Horses domesticated || | + | | Horses domesticated || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Minoan culture}} arises on Crete || | + | | {{w|Minoan culture}} arises on Crete || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="4"| 3500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="4"| 3500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Egyptian mummification}} || | + | | {{w|Egyptian mummification}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Rise of the {{w|Indus Valley civilization}} || | + | | Rise of the {{w|Indus Valley civilization}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Invention of | + | | Invention of writing in Sumer “prehistory” ends, “history” begins || || || Kids these days with their new-fangled stone tablets, instead of using their memory... |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Earliest human whose name we know (Pharaoh {{w|Iry-Hor}} in Egypt) || | + | | Earliest human whose name we know (Pharaoh {{w|Iry-Hor}} in Egypt) || || || |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="5"| 3000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="5"| 3000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors}} period in China || | + | | {{w|Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors}} period in China || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Gilgamesh}} || | + | | {{w|Gilgamesh}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Imhotep}} || | + | | {{w|Imhotep}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Maya civilization|Mayan}} culture emerges || | + | | {{w|Maya civilization|Mayan}} culture emerges || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Great Pyramid}} constructed || | + | | {{w|Great Pyramid}} constructed || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="3"| 2500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="3"| 2500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Corded Ware culture}} in Europe || | + | | {{w|Corded Ware culture}} in Europe || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [To the left of the curve two rock musicians with long hair and electrical guitars are standing on either side of a small gate made of three slabs of stone, one on top of the other two standing stones.] <br> | + | | [To the left of the curve two rock musicians with long hair and electrical guitars are standing on either side of a small gate made of three slabs of stone, one on top of the other two standing stones.] <br> Stonehenge completed || 2250 || || The drawing is a reference to the 1984 movie "This is Spinal Tap" (A documentary/parody featuring the fake metal band "Spinal Tap", http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/), the musicians order a Stone Henge prop for the stage, which turns out to be too small (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw) |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Chariots}} developed || | + | | {{w|Chariots}} developed || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="3"| 2000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="3"| 2000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Alphabetic writing}} developed in Egypt || | + | | {{w|Alphabetic writing}} developed in Egypt || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Last | + | | Last mammoths on a tiny Siberian island go extinct || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Minoan eruption}} || | + | | {{w|Minoan eruption}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="5"| 1500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="5"| 1500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | {{w|Iron smelting}} | | + | | {{w|Iron smelting}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Olmec}} civilization develops in Central America || | + | | {{w|Olmec}} civilization develops in Central America || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [A Trojan horse with two Cueball-like guys in front and a third standing on its back. Its back is at three Cueball’s height and its head rises to the level of the Cueball on its back. It stands on a platform with four wheel on the visible side. There is text on the horse]<br> Setting of the '' | + | | [A Trojan horse with two Cueball-like guys in front and a third standing on its back. Its back is at three Cueball’s height and its head rises to the level of the Cueball on its back. It stands on a platform with four wheel on the visible side. There is text on the horse]<br> Setting of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey''<br> Text on horse: Not a trap || || || The {{w|Trojan War}} |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Invasion of the {{w|Sea peoples}}* <br>* A real thing || | + | | Invasion of the {{w|Sea peoples}}* <br>* A real thing || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Polynesians}} explore the Pacific Ocean || | + | | {{w|Polynesians}} explore the Pacific Ocean || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="8"| 1000 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="8"| 1000 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | [From 1000 BBC to 1000 CE the temperature is stable and very close to the 1961-1990 average.] || | + | | [From 1000 BBC to 1000 CE the temperature is stable and very close to the 1961-1990 average.] || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Solomon}} || | + | | {{w|Solomon}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Iliad}} and {{w|Odyssey}} composed || | + | | {{w|Iliad}} and {{w|Odyssey}} composed || || || |
− | |- | + | |- |
− | | Rise of | + | | Rise of Greek city-states || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Neo-Assyrian | + | | {{w|Neo-Assyrian}} empire || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | First Olympics || || || | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Zapotec civilization|Zapotec}} writing in modern Mexico || | + | | {{w|Zapotec civilization|Zapotec}} writing in modern Mexico || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Confucius}} || | + | | {{w|Confucius}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="10"| 500 <small>BCE</small> | + | | rowspan="10"| 500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | | The stuff in the | + | | The stuff in the 300 (film)|movie ''300'', but regular speed and with more clothing || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Buddha}} || | + | | {{w|Buddha}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Nazca Lines}} || | + | | {{w|Nazca Lines}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Alexander the Great}} || | + | | {{w|Alexander the Great}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Mayan hieroglyphics}} || | + | | {{w|Mayan hieroglyphics}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Ashoka the Great}} || | + | | {{w|Ashoka the Great}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Paper}} invented || | + | | {{w|Paper}} invented || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Asterix}} || | + | | {{w|Asterix}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Teotihuacán}} metropolis || | + | | {{w| Teotihuacan|Teotihuacán}} metropolis || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Julius Caesar}} || | + | | {{w|Julius Caesar}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="8"|1 <small>BCE</small><br>1 <small>CE</small> | + | | rowspan="8"|1 <small>BCE</small><br>1 <small>CE</small> |
− | | [ | + | | [At the year 0, there is instead two numbers for each of the two scales before (1 BCE) and after Christ (1 CE)] || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Roman Empire}} || | + | | {{w|Roman Empire}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Jesus}} || | + | | {{w|Jesus}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [To the left and erupting volcano.] <br> {{w|Pompeii}} || | + | | [To the left and erupting volcano.] <br> {{w|Pompeii}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Three Kingdoms}} period || | + | | {{w|Three Kingdoms}} period || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Gupta empire}} || | + | | {{w|Gupta empire}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Various groups take turns sacking | + | | Various groups take turns sacking Rome || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Attila the Hun}} || | + | | {{w|Attila the Hun}} || || || |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="4"| 500 <small>CE</small> | + | | rowspan="4"| 500 <small>CE</small> |
− | | {{w|Muhammad}} || | + | | {{w|Muhammad}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Tang Dynasty}} || | + | | {{w|Tang Dynasty}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [An arrow to the right of the dotted curve pointing down, takes a swing far out from the curve and then bends back again. The text label next to it breaks into the next 500 period. The dotted curve stays stable at the 1961-1990 average along this arrow.] <br> | + | | [An arrow to the right of the dotted curve pointing down, takes a swing far out from the curve and then bends back again. The text label next to it breaks into the next 500 period. The dotted curve stays stable at the 1961-1990 average along this arrow.] <br> Medieval warm period in Europe and some northern regions (too regional to affect the global average much) || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Leif Eriksson}} || | + | | {{w|Leif Eriksson}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="7"| 1000 <small>CE</small> | + | | rowspan="7"| 1000 <small>CE</small> |
− | | [ | + | | [The dotted curve moves to the left towards lower temperature reaching a minimum around 1650 of about 0.6°C below the 1961-1990 average at the Little Ice Age.] || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [ | + | | [To the left a drawing of a compass with needle pointing the black end towards north east. There are labels for the four main directions (N, S, W, E) and a label next to it:]<br> Magnetic compass navigation || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w| | + | | {{w|Ghengis Khan}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Zheng He}}’s fleet explores Asia and Africa || | + | | {{w|Zheng He}}’s fleet explores Asia and Africa || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Aztec Empire|Aztec Alliance}} || | + | | {{w|Aztec Empire|Aztec Alliance}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Printing press}} || | + | | {{w|Printing press}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Christopher Columbus|Columbus}} || | + | | {{w|Christopher Columbus|Columbus}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2"| 1500 <small>CE</small> | + | | rowspan="2"| 1500 <small>CE</small> |
− | | {{w|European Renaissance}} || | + | | {{w|European Renaissance}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Shakespeare}} || | + | | {{w|Shakespeare}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2"| 1600 | | rowspan="2"| 1600 | ||
− | | {{w|Isaac Newton|Newton}} || | + | | {{w|Isaac Newton|Newton}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [To the right of the dotted curve there is an arrow pointing down that makes a swing in towards the curve and then back out again. | + | | [To the right of the dotted curve there is an arrow pointing down that makes a swing in towards the curve and then back out again. At 0.6°C below the 1961-1990 average, this is the coldest it has been since 9500 BCE. It is labeled:]<br> ”{{w|Little Ice Age}}” || || || This was not a true geologic Ice Age, just a slightly chilly period. |
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2"| 1700 | | rowspan="2"| 1700 | ||
− | | {{w|Steam engines}} || | + | | {{w|Steam engines}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|United States Declaration of Independence|Unites States Independence}} || | + | | {{w|United States Declaration of Independence|Unites States Independence}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="3"| 1800 | | rowspan="3"| 1800 | ||
− | | {{w|Industrial Revolution}} || | + | | {{w|Industrial Revolution}} || || || |
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | [After this the dotted curve becomes solid.] || | + | | {{w|Electrical telegraph|Telegraphs}} || || || |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | [After this the dotted curve becomes solid.] || || || In the late 1800s, weather records became sufficiently accurate and widespread to greatly improve the precision of climate measurements. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="6"| 1900 | | rowspan="6"| 1900 | ||
− | | {{w| | + | | {{w|Airplanes}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|World Wars}} || | + | | {{w|World Wars}} || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [The solid line takes a step to the right close to the 1961-1990 average. Over the rest of the 1900s it moves closer to the 1961-1990 average, crossing it before 2000 where it almost reaches the maximum temperature of 0.5 °C above the 1961-1990 average from earlier in 8000 BCE.] || | + | | [The solid line takes a step to the right close to the 1961-1990 average. Over the rest of the 1900s it moves closer to the 1961-1990 average, crossing it before 2000 where it almost reaches the maximum temperature of 0.5 °C above the 1961-1990 average from earlier in 8000 BCE.] || || || This is what the previous 14000 pixels of comic has been leading up to. After a laborious 20 millennia of gradual and meandering climate change, it should be clear that a full degree of warming in a single century is unprecedented in human history, and very unlikely to be natural variation. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Fossil fuel}} CO<sub>2</sub> emissions start rapidly increasing || | + | | {{w|Fossil fuel}} CO<sub>2</sub> emissions start rapidly increasing || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Nuclear weapons}} || | + | | {{w|Nuclear weapons}} || || || The Working Group on the 'Anthropocene' suggests dating the {{w|Anthropocene}} epoch from ~1950. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w|Internet}} || | + | | {{w|Internet}} || || || |
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2000 | | rowspan="2"| 2000 | ||
− | | {{w|Northwest Passage}} opens || | + | | {{w|Northwest Passage}} opens || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | |[From here to present day the solid line increases rapidly and in 2016 | + | |[From here to present day the solid line increases rapidly and in 2016 present day is almost reaches 1°C above the 1961-1990 average, with about 0.8°C above the 1961-1990 average.] || || || [http://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php?a=11&p=2 No, warming did not stop in 1998]. |
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="3"| 2016 | | rowspan="3"| 2016 | ||
− | | | Present day || | + | | | Present day || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [From here the curve once again becomes dotted as this is the future. After one dot it splits in two and after the first two dots another split between them occurs forming three possible future dotted curves.] || | + | | [From here the curve once again becomes dotted as this is the future. After one dot it splits in two and after the first two dots another split between them occurs forming three possible future dotted curves.] || || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | |The first curve bending down before the others, and thus to the right of the other two reaches about 1.2°C above the 1961-1990 average and then goes straight down and stops at the 2100 line. An arrow points to it from the left and a label is written partly before and the rest after the 2100 line to the left of the curve:] <br>Best-case scenario assuming immediate massive action to limit emissions || | + | |The first curve bending down before the others, and thus to the right of the other two reaches about 1.2°C above the 1961-1990 average and then goes straight down and stops at the 2100 line. An arrow points to it from the left and a label is written partly before and the rest after the 2100 line to the left of the curve:] <br>Best-case scenario assuming immediate massive action to limit emissions || || || |
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2100 | | rowspan="2"| 2100 | ||
− | | [The middle curve bends a little down after reaching 1.3°C above the 1961-1990 average, and then continues this path reaching 2°C above the 1961-1990 average in 2100. An arrow point from below to it and a label is written below the curve and below 2100 line:] <br> Optimistic scenario|| | + | | [The middle curve bends a little down after reaching 1.3°C above the 1961-1990 average, and then continues this path reaching 2°C above the 1961-1990 average in 2100. An arrow point from below to it and a label is written below the curve and below 2100 line:] <br> Optimistic scenario|| || || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [The last line continues along the path from the last 16 years of the solid line reaching 4.2°C above the 1961-1990 average at 2100, almost as far on the other side of the 1961-1990 average in 150 years as it took 14,000 years to move from the other side from the start of the chart. Another arrow point to this from below with a label below the curve and below 2100 line:] <br> Current Path || | + | | [The last line continues along the path from the last 16 years of the solid line reaching 4.2°C above the 1961-1990 average at 2100, almost as far on the other side of the 1961-1990 average in 150 years as it took 14,000 years to move from the other side from the start of the chart. Another arrow point to this from below with a label below the curve and below 2100 line:] <br> Current Path || || || Randall has warned about the hazards of [[Extrapolating]], but this line is in fact [http://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-best-to-worst-case-scenarios.html below the worst case prediction]. |
− | |||
− | |||
|} | |} | ||
===Sources=== | ===Sources=== | ||
The image attributes climate data sources as "Shakun et al. (2012), Marcott et al. (2013), Annan and Hargreaves (2013), HadCRUT4, IPCC": | The image attributes climate data sources as "Shakun et al. (2012), Marcott et al. (2013), Annan and Hargreaves (2013), HadCRUT4, IPCC": | ||
− | * Shakun | + | * Shakun et al. (2012) - [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v484/n7392/full/nature10915.html Nature], [http://www.atm.damtp.cam.ac.uk/mcintyre/shakun-co2-temp-lag-nat12.pdf (pdf)] |
− | * Marcott | + | * Marcott et al. (2013) - [http://science.sciencemag.org/content/339/6124/1198 Science], [http://www.atm.damtp.cam.ac.uk/mcintyre/shakun-co2-temp-lag-nat12.pdf (pdf)] |
− | * Annan | + | * Annan and Hargreaves (2013) - [http://www.clim-past.net/9/367/2013/cp-9-367-2013.html Climate of the Past] [http://www.jamstec.go.jp/frsgc/research/d5/jdannan/LGM_temp.pdf (pdf)] |
− | * {{w|HadCRUT| | + | * {{w|HadCRUT#HadCRUT4 wikipedia|HadCRUT4}} - [http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadcrut4/ Official site] |
− | * {{w| | + | * {{w|Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change|IPCC}} -[http://www.ipcc.ch/ Official site] |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
Line 440: | Line 443: | ||
:When people say “The climate has changed before,” these are the kinds of changes they’re talking about. | :When people say “The climate has changed before,” these are the kinds of changes they’re talking about. | ||
− | :[A very long chart below the headings above is headed with a label for the scale of the X-axis above the chart. Below that a sub-caption. To the left an arrow down to the top of the chart pointing to the dotted curves starting point (at -4.3°C below the 1961-1990 average) with a label above the arrow. And arrow pointing left to the left of the center and another pointing right to the right of the center has labels. Below these is the temperature scale of the X-axis, with 9 ticks between the borders each with a label ranging from -4 to +4°C compared to the 1961-1990 average, but with another step in each direction not labeled towards to axis so the chart covers -5 to +5°C compared to the 1961-1990 average.] | + | :[A very long chart below the headings above is headed with a label for the scale of the X-axis above the chart. Below that a sub-caption. To the left an arrow down to the top of the chart pointing to the dotted curves starting point (at -4.3°C below the 1961-1990 average) with a label above the arrow. And arrow pointing left to the left of the center and another pointing right to the right of the center has labels. Below these is the temperature scale of the X-axis, with 9 ticks between the borders each with a label ranging from -4 to +4°C compared to the 1961-1990 average, but with another step in each direction not labeled towards to axis so the chart covers -5 to +5°C compared to the 1961-1990 average.] |
:'''Temperature''' | :'''Temperature''' | ||
: <small>Compared to the 1961-1990 average</small> | : <small>Compared to the 1961-1990 average</small> | ||
Line 446: | Line 449: | ||
:Colder | :Colder | ||
:Warmer | :Warmer | ||
− | :-4°C -3°C -2°C -1°C 0°C +1°C +2°C +3°C +4°C | + | :-4°C -3°C -2°C -1°C 0°C +1°C +2°C +3°C +4°C |
:[To the right of the chart is a gray text standing on the side down along the outer boarder of the chart with the sources for the chart:] | :[To the right of the chart is a gray text standing on the side down along the outer boarder of the chart with the sources for the chart:] | ||
: <font color="gray">Source: Shakun et. al. (2012) , Marcott et. al. (2013), Annan and Hargreaves (2013) , HadCRUT<sub>4</sub>, IPCC </font> | : <font color="gray">Source: Shakun et. al. (2012) , Marcott et. al. (2013), Annan and Hargreaves (2013) , HadCRUT<sub>4</sub>, IPCC </font> | ||
− | :[The chart is split in 10 columns by the temperature scale and the borders. The two central columns are white, and then from there to the left the background becomes a faded color that changes from light blue to blue at the edge in four steps. Similarly to the right the color changes from light red to red. To the left there is a time scale taking 500 years leaps from 20,000 BCE all the way to year 1, where there are two years, one for BBC and one for CE. The 500 year leaps continue until 1500 CE and from there the steps are down to 100 years until 2100 with also present day 2016 labeled. After 1500 the CE is omitted. The labels stop there, but there is space below covering down to 2200 CE. There is clearly visible division line across the chart on the level of each of the 500 step, and fainter lines for each of the 100 steps all the way even though only the last 5 of these 100 steps are labeled. There is a similar clear line at 2016. Below each step on the Y-axis is noted, and then any text starting before the next step is noted below indented. If there are extra image belonging to text this is indented once more. The graph that the whole chart is about is a dotted line that begins at the “start” point mentioned above at -4.3°C and then begins to go straight down. It will change left and right all the way down. To being with all text and most drawings are to right of the dotted curve. Whenever something is to the left it will be noted. When it says to the left above something, and then nothing over the next, then the next will be to the right. Only at the very bottom are there more entries to the left than right. ] | + | :[The chart is split in 10 columns by the temperature scale and the borders. The two central columns are white, and then from there to the left the background becomes a faded color that changes from light blue to blue at the edge in four steps. Similarly to the right the color changes from light red to red. To the left there is a time scale taking 500 years leaps from 20,000 BCE all the way to year 1, where there are two years, one for BBC and one for CE. The 500 year leaps continue until 1500 CE and from there the steps are down to 100 years until 2100 with also present day 2016 labeled. After 1500 the CE is omitted. The labels stop there, but there is space below covering down to 2200 CE. There is clearly visible division line across the chart on the level of each of the 500 step, and fainter lines for each of the 100 steps all the way even though only the last 5 of these 100 steps are labeled. There is a similar clear line at 2016. Below each step on the Y-axis is noted, and then any text starting before the next step is noted below indented. If there are extra image belonging to text this is indented once more. The graph that the whole chart is about is a dotted line that begins at the “start” point mentioned above at -4.3°C and then begins to go straight down. It will change left and right all the way down. To being with all text and most drawings are to right of the dotted curve. Whenever something is to the left it will be noted. When it says to the left above something, and then nothing over the next, then the next will be to the right. Only at the very bottom are there more entries to the left than right. ] |
− | :20000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :20000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[An arrow goes from the dotted line to the central line at 0°C. In the middle of the line there is a temperature label:] | ::[An arrow goes from the dotted line to the central line at 0°C. In the middle of the line there is a temperature label:] | ||
::4.3°C | ::4.3°C | ||
Line 460: | Line 463: | ||
:::New York | :::New York | ||
:::Ice | :::Ice | ||
− | :::[ | + | :::[A guy with a white knit cap is seen walking in a snowy landscape leaving black footprints behind him. He walks through the white central part of the chart.] |
:::[The skyline of Boston is shown with two clear buildings among all the other. Above it is a line and in between this area has been filled with thin lines. The drawing is labeled and so is this area. Also the skyline has an arrow pointing at it with a label:] | :::[The skyline of Boston is shown with two clear buildings among all the other. Above it is a line and in between this area has been filled with thin lines. The drawing is labeled and so is this area. Also the skyline has an arrow pointing at it with a label:] | ||
:::Boston | :::Boston | ||
Line 466: | Line 469: | ||
:::Modern skyline | :::Modern skyline | ||
− | :19500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :19500 <small>BCE</small> |
::But the world is about to warm up. | ::But the world is about to warm up. | ||
::By this time, humans have already spread across Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. | ::By this time, humans have already spread across Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. | ||
::They’ve created painting, pottery, rope, and bows and arrows, but haven’t developed writing or farming. | ::They’ve created painting, pottery, rope, and bows and arrows, but haven’t developed writing or farming. | ||
− | :19000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :19000 <small>BCE</small> |
::Changes in the Earth’s orbit mean that more sunlight reaches the polar ice… | ::Changes in the Earth’s orbit mean that more sunlight reaches the polar ice… | ||
:::[A line chart with a labeled Y-axis with three labeled ticks. The curve starts up and then goes down five times and up four times ending down. There is one plateau towards the end compared to the rest of the curve where the ups and downs are quite alike.] | :::[A line chart with a labeled Y-axis with three labeled ticks. The curve starts up and then goes down five times and up four times ending down. There is one plateau towards the end compared to the rest of the curve where the ups and downs are quite alike.] | ||
Line 479: | Line 482: | ||
:::450 | :::450 | ||
− | :18500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :18500 <small>BCE</small> |
− | ::[A map of the world. At the top is a light gray area covering North America, Greenland and northern Europe and most of the northern part of Russia. A similar gray area covers Antarctica. There are two labels in the gray area above and one in the gray area below:] | + | ::[A map of the world. At the top is a light gray area covering North America, Greenland and northern Europe and most of the northern part of Russia. A similar gray area covers Antarctica. There are two labels in the gray area above and one in the gray area below:] |
::Ice Ice | ::Ice Ice | ||
::Ice | ::Ice | ||
− | :18000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :18000 <small>BCE</small> |
::…And the ice sheets start to melt. | ::…And the ice sheets start to melt. | ||
− | :17500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :17500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Temperatures have been creeping upward, but around this point, CO<sub>2</sub> levels start to climb… | ::Temperatures have been creeping upward, but around this point, CO<sub>2</sub> levels start to climb… | ||
− | :17000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :17000 <small>BCE</small> |
::…And then the warming speeds up. | ::…And then the warming speeds up. | ||
− | :16500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :16500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[Cueball is standing with a spear just the right of the graph talking to a rabbit.] | ::[Cueball is standing with a spear just the right of the graph talking to a rabbit.] | ||
::Cueball: Still pretty cold. | ::Cueball: Still pretty cold. | ||
− | :16000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :16000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[Megan points to the graph to the right of her and between her and Ponytail standing on the other side. Mean is the first drawing on the left side of the dotted curve, which has hardly moved since the beginning, only to just on the other side of 4°C.] | ::[Megan points to the graph to the right of her and between her and Ponytail standing on the other side. Mean is the first drawing on the left side of the dotted curve, which has hardly moved since the beginning, only to just on the other side of 4°C.] | ||
::[In the right part of the chart is an explanation of the data. Below the first two lines there are four drawings each showing possible temperature swings in reality compared to the smoothed data that represents the dotted curve of the entire chart. The dotted curve is shown in all four drawings and a thin line is shown running along it but with much more fluctuation left and right on the first two, a large spike right on the third and a large bump way right on the fourth. Above these there are two labels. The first labels is inside a bracket that covers the first three, and the last label is for the last drawing. Below is a list of sources.] | ::[In the right part of the chart is an explanation of the data. Below the first two lines there are four drawings each showing possible temperature swings in reality compared to the smoothed data that represents the dotted curve of the entire chart. The dotted curve is shown in all four drawings and a thin line is shown running along it but with much more fluctuation left and right on the first two, a large spike right on the third and a large bump way right on the fourth. Above these there are two labels. The first labels is inside a bracket that covers the first three, and the last label is for the last drawing. Below is a list of sources.] | ||
Line 505: | Line 508: | ||
::Reconstructions are from Shakun (2012) and Marcott (2013), scaled to Annan + Hargreaves (2013) estimate for the last glacial period. | ::Reconstructions are from Shakun (2012) and Marcott (2013), scaled to Annan + Hargreaves (2013) estimate for the last glacial period. | ||
− | :15500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :15500 <small>BCE</small> |
::In what is now France, humans paint murals on the walls of the Lascaux caves | ::In what is now France, humans paint murals on the walls of the Lascaux caves | ||
::[Hairy paints three animals, two with horns, and two humans, Cueball holding hand with Hairy who has a spear. On the other side of the central line Megan writes three letters, the last of which is reversed.] | ::[Hairy paints three animals, two with horns, and two humans, Cueball holding hand with Hairy who has a spear. On the other side of the central line Megan writes three letters, the last of which is reversed.] | ||
:::NIИ | :::NIИ | ||
− | :15000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :15000 <small>BCE</small> |
::Ice sheets around Alaska shrink, exposing a land bridge between Asia and North America | ::Ice sheets around Alaska shrink, exposing a land bridge between Asia and North America | ||
::[From around the bottom if this section and down to 11500 BCE the dotted curve moved steadily to the right towards warmed temperature peaking close to -1.5°C. Before this the temperature had not moved much away from that at the start.] | ::[From around the bottom if this section and down to 11500 BCE the dotted curve moved steadily to the right towards warmed temperature peaking close to -1.5°C. Before this the temperature had not moved much away from that at the start.] | ||
− | :14500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :14500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[Cueball walks right looking back at the graph behind him. Megan walks in front of him pointing further right.] | ::[Cueball walks right looking back at the graph behind him. Megan walks in front of him pointing further right.] | ||
::Cueball: Cool. | ::Cueball: Cool. | ||
::Humans reach North America. | ::Humans reach North America. | ||
− | :14000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :14000 <small>BCE</small> |
::The edge of the ice withdraws from New York City and retreats North. | ::The edge of the ice withdraws from New York City and retreats North. | ||
::[A large glacier front speaks in a speech bubble with an arrow pointing at it. Behind is there are four peaks in the horizon and in front of it three small melting pools and some rocks on the ground.] | ::[A large glacier front speaks in a speech bubble with an arrow pointing at it. Behind is there are four peaks in the horizon and in front of it three small melting pools and some rocks on the ground.] | ||
::Glacier: ''That’s it! I’m moving to Canada!'' | ::Glacier: ''That’s it! I’m moving to Canada!'' | ||
− | :13500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :13500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Humans domesticate dogs | ::Humans domesticate dogs | ||
::(Date uncertain, may be much earlier) | ::(Date uncertain, may be much earlier) | ||
Line 533: | Line 536: | ||
::Wolf: …Wait. | ::Wolf: …Wait. | ||
− | :13000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :13000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[Randall did not use the normal spelling for Woolly Rhino, but this is an accepted alternative spelling:] | ::[Randall did not use the normal spelling for Woolly Rhino, but this is an accepted alternative spelling:] | ||
::Wooly Rhino goes extinct | ::Wooly Rhino goes extinct | ||
::Oregon is scoured by huge floods as glacial dams burst and lakes of meltwater flow to the sea | ::Oregon is scoured by huge floods as glacial dams burst and lakes of meltwater flow to the sea | ||
− | :12500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :12500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Ice sheets withdraw from Chicago | ::Ice sheets withdraw from Chicago | ||
− | :12000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :12000 <small>BCE</small> |
::Humans settle Abu Hureyra in Syria | ::Humans settle Abu Hureyra in Syria | ||
− | :11500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :11500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[An arrow on the left side of the dotted curve is pointing down along the dotted curve and to the left indicate temperature is declining again, meaning the dotted curve now moves left to colder temperatures. This only continues until 10500 BCE. It is only the second time something is noted on the left side after Megan at 16000 BCE] | ::[An arrow on the left side of the dotted curve is pointing down along the dotted curve and to the left indicate temperature is declining again, meaning the dotted curve now moves left to colder temperatures. This only continues until 10500 BCE. It is only the second time something is noted on the left side after Megan at 16000 BCE] | ||
::Temperatures start to decline, mainly in the Northern hemisphere | ::Temperatures start to decline, mainly in the Northern hemisphere | ||
Line 550: | Line 553: | ||
::This cooler period is called the Younger Dryas | ::This cooler period is called the Younger Dryas | ||
− | :11000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :11000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[This is the first text to the left of the dotted curve:] | ::[This is the first text to the left of the dotted curve:] | ||
::Humans reach Argentina | ::Humans reach Argentina | ||
− | :10500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :10500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[An arrow pointing down along the right side of the dotted curve and to the right indicate temperature is increasing again, meaning the dotted curve now moves right to hotter temperatures. This continues until 8000 BCE where it levels out just above 0°C.] | ::[An arrow pointing down along the right side of the dotted curve and to the right indicate temperature is increasing again, meaning the dotted curve now moves right to hotter temperatures. This continues until 8000 BCE where it levels out just above 0°C.] | ||
::Warming resumes | ::Warming resumes | ||
::Human settlements at Jericho | ::Human settlements at Jericho | ||
− | :10000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :10000 <small>BCE</small> |
::First development of farming | ::First development of farming | ||
− | :9500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :9500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Saber-toothed cat goes extinct | ::Saber-toothed cat goes extinct | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Horses disappear from North America | ::Horses disappear from North America | ||
− | :9000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :9000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left, Randall spelled Pokémon wrong:] | ::[To the left, Randall spelled Pokémon wrong:] | ||
:::Last North American Pokemon go extinct | :::Last North American Pokemon go extinct | ||
Line 576: | Line 579: | ||
::Cattle domesticated | ::Cattle domesticated | ||
− | :8500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :8500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Ice sheets retreat across the Canadian border | ::Ice sheets retreat across the Canadian border | ||
::Temperatures start to level out slightly above 1961-1990 levels | ::Temperatures start to level out slightly above 1961-1990 levels | ||
− | :8000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :8000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[The above sentence breaks over the 8000 <small>BCE</small> line. From here a maximum in temperature on the chart is reached at 0.5°C which will not be overtaken until 2000 CE. It stays almost constant here until 5000 BCE where a slight cooling begins.] | ::[The above sentence breaks over the 8000 <small>BCE</small> line. From here a maximum in temperature on the chart is reached at 0.5°C which will not be overtaken until 2000 CE. It stays almost constant here until 5000 BCE where a slight cooling begins.] | ||
− | :7500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :7500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::This warm, stable period is called the Holocene Climate Optimum | ::This warm, stable period is called the Holocene Climate Optimum | ||
Line 589: | Line 592: | ||
::Jiahu settled in China | ::Jiahu settled in China | ||
− | :7000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :7000 <small>BCE</small> |
::Final collapse of the North American ice sheet leads to rapid 2-4m sea level rise… | ::Final collapse of the North American ice sheet leads to rapid 2-4m sea level rise… | ||
::[A small arrow points down and left to the right of the dotted curve. There is a small decrease in temperature but it is very small and would have been missed without the arrow and label.] | ::[A small arrow points down and left to the right of the dotted curve. There is a small decrease in temperature but it is very small and would have been missed without the arrow and label.] | ||
::…And a period of cooling in the Northern hemisphere | ::…And a period of cooling in the Northern hemisphere | ||
− | :6500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :6500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::As seas rise to near their modern levels, Britain is cut off from mainland Europe | ::As seas rise to near their modern levels, Britain is cut off from mainland Europe | ||
− | :6000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :6000 <small>BCE</small> |
::Humans develop copper metalworking | ::Humans develop copper metalworking | ||
− | :5500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :5500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Massive volcanic eruption in Oregon creates crater lake | ::Massive volcanic eruption in Oregon creates crater lake | ||
::Gold metalworking | ::Gold metalworking | ||
− | :5000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :5000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Invention of the wheel | ::Invention of the wheel | ||
Line 612: | Line 615: | ||
::Earth begins to cool slowly mainly due to regular cycles in its orbit | ::Earth begins to cool slowly mainly due to regular cycles in its orbit | ||
− | :4500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :4500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
:: Proto-Indo-European language develops | :: Proto-Indo-European language develops | ||
:::[To the right of the curve Ponytail holds up a hand towards Cueball.] | :::[To the right of the curve Ponytail holds up a hand towards Cueball.] | ||
− | :::Ponytail: Let’s make | + | :::Ponytail: Let’s make out language heavily inflected, so future students have to memorize a zillion verb endings! |
:::Cueball: Okay! | :::Cueball: Okay! | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Permanent settlements in the fertile crescent | ::Permanent settlements in the fertile crescent | ||
− | :4000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :4000 <small>BCE</small> |
::Horses domesticated | ::Horses domesticated | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Minoan culture arises on Crete | ::Minoan culture arises on Crete | ||
− | :3500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :3500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Egyptian mummification | ::Egyptian mummification | ||
::Rise of the Indus Valley civilization | ::Rise of the Indus Valley civilization | ||
Line 634: | Line 637: | ||
::<small>(Pharaoh Iry-Hor in Egypt)</small> | ::<small>(Pharaoh Iry-Hor in Egypt)</small> | ||
− | :3000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :3000 <small>BCE</small> |
::''Three Sovereigns and five emperors'' period in China | ::''Three Sovereigns and five emperors'' period in China | ||
::Gilgamesh | ::Gilgamesh | ||
Line 643: | Line 646: | ||
::Great Pyramid constructed | ::Great Pyramid constructed | ||
− | :2500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :2500 <small>BCE</small> |
::Corded Ware culture in Europe | ::Corded Ware culture in Europe | ||
::[To the left of the curve two rock musicians with long hair and electrical guitars are standing on either side of a small gate made of three slabs of stone, one on top of the other two standing stones.] | ::[To the left of the curve two rock musicians with long hair and electrical guitars are standing on either side of a small gate made of three slabs of stone, one on top of the other two standing stones.] | ||
Line 649: | Line 652: | ||
::Chariots developed | ::Chariots developed | ||
− | :2000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :2000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Alphabetic writing developed in Egypt | ::Alphabetic writing developed in Egypt | ||
Line 656: | Line 659: | ||
::Minoan eruption | ::Minoan eruption | ||
− | :1500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :1500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Iron smelting | ::Iron smelting | ||
Line 668: | Line 671: | ||
::Polynesians explore the Pacific Ocean | ::Polynesians explore the Pacific Ocean | ||
− | :1000 <small>BCE</small> | + | :1000 <small>BCE</small> |
::[From 1000 BBC to 1000 CE the temperature is stable and very close to 0°C.] | ::[From 1000 BBC to 1000 CE the temperature is stable and very close to 0°C.] | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Solomon | ::Solomon | ||
− | :: | + | ::[Randall spelled Iliad wrongly this time:] |
+ | ::Illiad and Odyssey composed | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Rise of Greek city-states | ::Rise of Greek city-states | ||
Line 682: | Line 686: | ||
::Confucius | ::Confucius | ||
− | :500 <small>BCE</small> | + | :500 <small>BCE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::The stuff in the 300 (film)|movie ''300'', but regular speed and with more clothing | ::The stuff in the 300 (film)|movie ''300'', but regular speed and with more clothing | ||
Line 701: | Line 705: | ||
:[At the year 0, there is instead two numbers for each of the two scales before and after Christ:] | :[At the year 0, there is instead two numbers for each of the two scales before and after Christ:] | ||
− | :1 <small>BCE</small> | + | :1 <small>BCE</small> |
− | :1 <small>CE</small> | + | :1 <small>CE</small> |
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Roman Empire | ::Roman Empire | ||
Line 713: | Line 717: | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
::Various groups take turns sacking Rome | ::Various groups take turns sacking Rome | ||
− | ::Attila the Hun | + | ::[Randall spelled Attila wrong:] |
+ | ::Atilla the Hun | ||
− | :500 <small>CE</small> | + | :500 <small>CE</small> |
::Muhammad | ::Muhammad | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
Line 724: | Line 729: | ||
::Leif Eriksson | ::Leif Eriksson | ||
− | :1000 <small>CE</small> | + | :1000 <small>CE</small> |
::[The dotted curve moves to the left towards lower temperature reaching a minimum around 1650 of about -0.6°C at the Little Ice Age.] | ::[The dotted curve moves to the left towards lower temperature reaching a minimum around 1650 of about -0.6°C at the Little Ice Age.] | ||
::[To the left a drawing of a compass with needle pointing the black end towards north east. There are labels for the four main directions and a label next to it:] | ::[To the left a drawing of a compass with needle pointing the black end towards north east. There are labels for the four main directions and a label next to it:] | ||
Line 732: | Line 737: | ||
:::Magnetic compass navigation | :::Magnetic compass navigation | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
− | ::Ghengis | + | ::Ghengis Khan |
::Zheng He’s fleet explores Asia and Africa | ::Zheng He’s fleet explores Asia and Africa | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
Line 741: | Line 746: | ||
::Columbus | ::Columbus | ||
− | :1500 <small>CE</small> | + | :1500 <small>CE</small> |
::European Renaissance | ::European Renaissance | ||
::[To the left:] | ::[To the left:] | ||
Line 792: | Line 797: | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
− | *There have been several ''[[:Category:Large drawings|large drawings]]'' in the history of xkcd, some | + | *There have been several ''[[:Category:Large drawings|large drawings]]'' in the history of xkcd, and also some that are bigger than this one (for instance [[1110: Click and Drag]]). |
− | ** | + | **But among those that can be viewed in one go, without downloading a larger file or moving around, this is by far the longest. |
− | *The timeline starts at 20,000 BCE (22,000 years ago) and ends at 2100 CE, thus covering 22,100 years. | + | **The next longest is probably [[482: Height]]. |
+ | *The timeline starts at 20,000 BCE (22,000 years ago) and ends at 2100 CE, thus covering 22,100 years. | ||
*There are several spelling mistakes. | *There are several spelling mistakes. | ||
− | **Most obvious is the second time Randall wrote the word "Iliad," because he just spelled it correctly at 1500 BCE and then spelled it ''Illiad'' at 1000 BCE with two | + | **Most obvious is the second time Randall wrote the word "Iliad," because he just spelled it correctly at 1500 BCE and then spelled it ''Illiad'' at 1000 BCE with two "L"s. |
− | **Attila the Hun | + | **Attila the Hun becomes ''Atilla the Hun'' with ''one'' T and ''two'' L's. |
− | + | **Pokémon is spelled ''Pokemon'', but then again that is not so strange for Randall (see [[1647: Diacritics]]). But he usually spells it correctly as in the recent comic [[1705: Pokémon Go]]. | |
− | **Pokémon is spelled ''Pokemon'', but then again | + | **Note that the fact that Woolly rhinoceros becomes ''Wooly rhino'' with only one l is not a spelling mistake but an alternative spelling of the word. |
− | **Note that the fact that | + | *Notably absent are the following facts |
− | * | + | **1850: methodical temperature record begins. Although this fact is indirectly indicated when the temperature curve becomes solid around 1850 and until present day. |
− | **1850: methodical temperature record begins. | + | **The entire swing period between 20 and 200 thousand years prior to now, which would depict temperature swings with increasing frequency and amplitude (ref geological record). |
− | **The entire swing period between 20 and 200 thousand years prior to now would depict temperature swings with increasing frequency and amplitude (ref geological record). But of course | + | ***But of course this could not be included in a comic that only goes back to 20,000 BCE. And as is clear from the curve the temperature has been very stable these last 10,000 years which may explain why human civilization has peace from rapid changes in the environment to develop in the first place. And now it seems that we are causing this stable plateau to come to an end, and that was the point of the comic. |
− | ** | + | **The 300 million years prior to that, during which the earth was significantly warmer than now, underwent much more extreme temperature changes, and during which time it is presumed that life was present on the earth (but that cars were not). |
+ | *The comment for the previous entry also goes for this entry. | ||
===Popularity of comic=== | ===Popularity of comic=== | ||
− | This comic | + | *This comic became so popular with a broader audience that Randall decided to push the release of the next comic [[1733: Solar Spectrum]] one day back for a rare [[:Category:Thursday comics|Thursday release]] instead of the scheduled [[:Category:Wednesday comics|Wednesday release]]. |
− | + | **He [http://web.archive.org/web/20160915101125/http://xkcd.com/ noted this] above [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1732_Earth_Temperature_Timeline_header_text_changed_for_all_comics.png all the comics] in the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6d/1732_Earth_Temperature_Timeline_header_text_changed.png header text on xkcd]: | |
− | + | ::Note: Since a lot of new people are here looking for this chart today, | |
− | * [ | + | ::I'll be posting Wednesday's comic on Thursday instead. |
− | + | *Before that the [http://web.archive.org/web/20160912181546/https://xkcd.com/ normal heading] with the release day of xkcd was shown. | |
− | * [ | + | **This was (of course) still there Tuesday the [http://web.archive.org/web/20160913231501/http://xkcd.com/ day after] the release, because it was first on Wednesday there were reason to note the delay. |
− | * [ | + | **It stayed in place even [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1732_Earth_Temperature_Timeline_header_text_changed_also_when_next_comic_was_released.png for some time after] the "Wednesday" comic was released on Thursday, but was [http://web.archive.org/web/20160915154605/http://xkcd.com/ then removed] before [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ee/1732_Earth_Temperature_Timeline_header_text_back_to_normal_shortly_after_next_comic_was_released.png noon (EST)] on Thursday. |
− | + | ***Randall did thus not post a link to this comic in the header text for new visitors to use, only giving them that one extra day. | |
− | + | *Even though the next comic was released on a Thursday, the scheduled Friday comic [[1734: Reductionism]] was still released as planned. | |
− | + | **This was also the first time this occurred on xkcd - see [[1734:_Reductionism#Trivia|this trivia item]] from the Friday comic. | |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] | ||
[[Category:Large drawings]] | [[Category:Large drawings]] | ||
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[[Category:Fiction]] <!-- Iliad, Odyssey, 300 --> | [[Category:Fiction]] <!-- Iliad, Odyssey, 300 --> | ||
[[Category:Sport]] <!-- Olympics --> | [[Category:Sport]] <!-- Olympics --> | ||
− | [[Category:Religion]] <!-- Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad --> | + | [[Category:Religion]] <!-- Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad --> |
[[Category:Internet]] | [[Category:Internet]] | ||
[[Category:Pokémon]] | [[Category:Pokémon]] | ||
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