Final answer:
To find the rate of temperature change, historical data such as the end of the last ice age, the Medieval Climate Anomaly, and increases during the Industrial Era can provide context. By using provided formulas, one can calculate that the temperature has risen approximately 1°C over the last 100 years, indicating a rapid rate of change compared to previous millennia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of temperature change can be calculated by using the formula provided which involves dividing the temperature change by the time period and then multiplying by 100. Since the precise temperature change is not given, we must refer to provided historical climate data to deduce a general rate of change. Investigating past climate events such as the end of the last ice age, the onset of the Medieval Climate Anomaly, and the sharp increase during the Industrial Era can give insights into how temperature has changed over different timescales.
Take the Little Ice Age, for instance, which is often contrasted with the Medieval Climate Anomaly. If we assume a temperature variation of 0.10 °C to 0.20 °C and use a timeline such as the Medieval Warm Period, we can calculate a rate by using the earlier stated formula.
In the last 100 years, the temperature has increased by approximately 1°C, a rate that is much higher than during the previous periods where the change was over millennia. So, the rate from 1880 to 1980 would be calculated by dividing 1°C by 100 years and multiplying by 100, giving us a rate of change of 1°C per century, or as a decimal 1.00. The significant aspect of this is the rate of change rather than the absolute temperature increase.