Countries in higher latitudes, like Canada, will see temperature increases much higher than global averages suggest. Some models predict, for example, increases of up to 80C for the Arctic. According to the IPCC's 1995 Scientific Assessment, climate change has already started. Recent years have been among the warmest since 1860, i.e., in the period of instrumental record, despite the cooling effect of the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption. Night-time temperatures over land have generally increased more than daytime temperatures.
Regional changes are also evident.
Precipitation has increased over land in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, especially during the cold season. Global sea level has risen between 10 and 25 cm over the past 100 years and much of the rise may be related to the increase in global temperature. It is the rate of warming that has scientists particularly concerned. In all cases, the average rate of warming would probably be greater than any seen in the last 10,000 years, but the actual annual to decadal changes would include considerable natural variability. Warming would not be distributed evenly around the world.