Figure 9-31: Atmospheric CO2 and Changes in Global Temperature This figure shows how the carbon dioxide concentration in our atmosphere (upper curve) and Earth’s average surface temperature (lower curve) have changed since 1000 c.e. The increase in CO2 since 1800 due to burning fossil fuels has strengthened the greenhouse effect and caused a dramatic temperature increase.
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, UK Meteorological Office)