Climate Explorer

Data in Climate Explorer are from a worldwide climate modeling project called CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5). In this experiment, climate modelers around the world programmed their models to simulate past temperature and precipitation based on the observed heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere and then projected future conditions based on the four scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways) found in the 5th IPCC report. The Climate Explorer shows results from RCP4.5 as "lower emissions" and RCP8.5 as "higher emissions." 

Click on the image below to explore how climate is projected to change in the United States.