Global temperature refers to the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land masses over a long period of time. It is an important indicator of climate change as it reflects how our planet is responding to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels or deforestation.
The global temperature is measured using data from weather stations, ships and buoys around the world, as well as satellite measurements. The average temperature is then calculated over a period of time (usually 30 years) and compared to previous periods to determine if there has been an increase or decrease in global temperatures.
The Earth's climate has warmed by about 1 degree Celsius since the pre-industrial era, with most of this warming occurring over the past few decades. This is largely due to human activities and scientists are concerned that if we continue on our current path, global temperatures could rise by another 2 or more degrees Celsius which would have significant impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources and human health around the world.