This pattern is based on XKCD’s A timeline of Earth’s average temperature to respond to the comment “the climate has changed in the past”.

The example shows the full timeline from 22,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age when ‘Boston is buried under almost a mile of ice’. Each colour change reflects the change in temperature at the time in one degree Celsius increments; from -5°C to +5°C. Blue shades are years with average temperatures below the 1900-1970 average temperatures and red shades are years with average temperatures above the 1900-1970 average. The actual temperature line is embroidered in white and, post 2016, shows anticipated result based on global governmental carbon reduction efforts as well as best case estimate to 2100.

Due to yarn limitations, the last 100 years is not to scale so that there is at least 1 row per colour change (see my other climate scarves for a more accurate view of the last century). In reality the curve is far steeper.

Note that human life has only been able to thrive and improve while in the goldilocks zone of -1°C to +1°C (the temperatures over the last 10,000 years that were ‘not too hot or cold but just right’ for human civilisation). Somewhere between 2016 and now (depending on how you measure averages), we left this safe zone and entered a temperature range with unknown, scary consequences for our planet. This is why scientists and others are screaming about #ClimateEmergency. Our children will inherit a scary world of climate extremes. Only rapid action by governments, corporations and communities worldwide will still leave a liveable world for those currently under 50.