This animation depicts global surface warming as simulated by the Community Climate System Model (CCSM), version three. It shows the surface temperature anomalies relative to an 1870-1899 average for each month. Notice the greater difference from average at the poles. This is known as "polar amplification."
This simulation is one of many using the CCSM for the fourth assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It was a large effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.
Original Quicktime movie available, here.
