What climate changes are projected for the 21st century?

Global average temperature and sea level are projected to rise under all IPCC scenarios during the 21st century.

The projected rate of warming is very likely to be the fastest in at least the last 10,000 years.

It is very likely that nearly all land areas will warm more rapidly than the global average, particularly those at high northern latitudes in the cold season

Precipitation is projected to increase, with larger year to year variations, especially in mid- to high northern latitudes and Antarctica in winter

Some extreme events are expected to increase in severity For some others, there is not enough information to make confident projections.

Most models show weakening of the ocean thermohaline circulation. This would reduce the temperature increase in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Northern Hemisphere snow cover and sea-ice extent are projected to decrease further, as well as glaciers and ice caps.

The Antarctic ice sheet is likely to gain mass while the Greenland ice sheet is likely to lose mass.

It is very unlikely that there will be a loss of grounded West Antarctic ice raising substantial the sea level.

Sea level is projected to rise by something between 9 and 88 cm (3.5 to 35") between 1990 and 2100, due primarily to thermal expansion and loss of ice.