Final answer:
NC's temperature trends since 1895 indicate an overall increase consistent with global warming, including variations like cooling periods that do not reverse the long-term pattern.
Step-by-step explanation:
State-wide temperature trends in North Carolina (NC) since 1895 have shown an overall increase, a pattern consistent with global warming trends recorded by reputable organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These trends are part of the broader shift captured by global annual mean temperature anomalies, which suggest a rise in Earth's surface temperatures of more than one degree over the past century. However, this general warming trend includes shorter periods of cooling or stable temperatures, which should not be mistaken for a halt or reversal of the long-term warming pattern. Examining global temperature data helps to mitigate the impact of such misleading interpretations, as does recognizing that different regions may experience climate variations, such as the proposed Medieval Climate Anomaly or the Little Ice Age. NC's recent trends are reflective of a third temperature anomaly that aligns with the Industrial Era, corresponding with human-induced climate changes.