Climate Matters•June 21, 2023
#ShowYourStripes Day 2023
KEY CONCEPTS
June 21 is #ShowYourStripes day—a time to spread awareness about climate change using the iconic ‘warming stripes’ graphics showing temperature trends over the last 100+ years.
Download and share warming stripes for 178 cities, 49 states, the U.S., and the globe.
On #ShowYourStripes day, Climate Central is also announcing updates to our daily climate change attribution tool.
Of particular interest to broadcast meteorologists, the Climate Shift Index™ is now available in KML format. Learn more and apply for KML access here.
Show up for #ShowYourStripes on June 21
On June 21, the iconic warming stripes graphics will appear on bridges, buildings, TV screens, and more for #ShowYourStripes day—a global campaign to spread awareness about climate change.
On #ShowYourStripes day, Climate Central is announcing new features in the Climate Shift Index™, our climate change attribution tool for daily temperatures around the globe:
Of particular interest to our broadcast meteorologist partners, the Climate Shift Index™ is now available in KML format. Invented by Google, KML (Keyhole Markup Language) files are used to display geographic data on 2D and 3D maps. KMLs will greatly enhance ease-of-use, localization and customization in displaying Climate Shift Index data for users of IBM/WSI Max weather graphics systems and other KML-compatible systems.
For access to the Climate Shift Index in KML format, fill out our application form at https://climatecentral.org/csi-kml.
Global warming stripes
Created by Professor Ed Hawkins at the University of Reading, the global warming stripes are a simple visual representation of the long-term rise in global temperatures due to human-caused climate change.
Each stripe represents the global temperature averaged over one year, from 1850 to 2022. Red stripes are years that were hotter than the 1971-2000 average; blue stripes are years that were cooler.
In 2022, the planet was 2.0°F (1.1°C) warmer than the 1881-1910 baseline—dangerously close to the internationally-agreed goal of pursuing the global warming limit of 2.7°F (1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels.
U.S. warming stripes
Climate Central analyzed historical temperature data through 2022 to produce warming stripes graphics for 178 U.S. cities, 49 states (excluding Hawaii), and the entire U.S.
Each graphic shows 100+ years of temperature change relative to the 20th century (1901-2000) average at the city, state, or national level. See Methodology below for details.
Warming stripes in action
Climate Central's Bernadette Woods Placky explains warming stripes.
The University of Reading’s showcase includes stripes on buildings, books, jerseys, TV, art galleries, murals, and more.
The Weather Channel meteorologists Jim Cantore, Stephanie Abrams, and Jordan Steele show their stripes.
The International Weather and Climate Forum shared a collage of worldwide stripes coverage
Stripes illuminate the night
Bridges, buildings, fountains, and other landmarks in 16 cities across the U.S. and Canada will light up blue and red for #ShowYourStripes day! Find a participating landmark near you.
Climate conversation starter
Most Americans (65%) are concerned about climate change—but also tend to underestimate their neighbors’ concern. These misperceptions can create barriers to talking about climate change with our neighbors. Warming stripes are a great climate conversation starter.
The future we choose—the solutions we use
Our actions today determine what color stripes future generations will live through.
Climate Central recently analyzed how much warming younger generations could experience over their lifetimes if carbon pollution either continues, or is cut rapidly.
The analysis found that keeping global warming under 3.6°F (2°C) with rapid cuts in carbon pollution would set younger generations on a path toward a safer future with less warming and fewer risky extreme events.
The tools we need to choose this safer future are already available. For example:
The U.S. produced enough wind and solar energy in 2022 to power the equivalent of 64 million homes—reflecting a surge in wind and solar capacity that’s projected to continue.
Heat-trapping emissions have already decreased in most U.S. states since 2005.
The solutions needed to accelerate these recent trends by cutting carbon from transportation, electricity, agriculture, and industry already exist—and are expanding across the country.
Learn more in Climate Central’s Solutions Series.
METHODOLOGY
The warming stripes design was conceived by Ed Hawkins, as described here. Stripes for U.S. states and stations are based on the anomaly from the 20th century average. For U.S. warming stripes (national, states, and cities), the 20th century (1901-2000) average temperature is set as the boundary between blue and red color scales. The color scale ranges from 5°F below the 20th century average (darkest blue; #004F7E) to 5°F above the 20th century average (darkest red; #56000E) in 1-degree increments. For a subset of locations where there was no data until after 1901, the anomaly is based on the oldest 100-year average available for that city. Stations with less than 100 years of data were not included. Station data is from Applied Climate Information System and state data is from NCEI Climate at a Glance.
CONTACT EXPERTS
Doing a story on Stripes? Contact Peter Girard to request an interview with a member of the Climate Central team.
FIND EXPERTS
Submit a request to SciLine from the American Association for the Advancement of Science or to the Climate Data Concierge from Columbia University. These free services rapidly connect journalists to relevant scientific experts.
Browse maps of climate experts and services at regional NOAA, USDA, and Department of the Interior offices.
Explore databases such as 500 Women Scientists, BIPOC Climate and Energy Justice PhDs, and Diverse Sources to find and amplify diverse expert voices.
Reach out to your State Climate Office or the nearest Land-Grant University to connect with scientists, educators, and extension staff in your local area.