The Invading Sea
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Multimedia
  • Public opinion
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Multimedia
  • Public opinion
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
No Result
View All Result

Show your stripes: Iconic graphic raises awareness about rising temperatures

A shift from blue to red stripes illustrates how heat-trapping pollution has warmed the planet

by Nathan Crabbe
June 21, 2025
in News
0

By Nathan Crabbe, The Invading Sea

Today is Show Your Stripes Day, a time to spread awareness about climate change using “warming stripes” graphics showing temperature trends over the last 100-plus years. 

A Climate Central warming stripe graphic depicting temperature trends for Florida. Each stripe represents the annual average temperature relative to the long-term average. Red stripes are hotter than average years, while blue stripes are years that were cooler. (Climate Central, Source: NOAA)
A Climate Central warming stripe graphic depicting temperature trends for Florida. Each stripe represents the annual average temperature relative to the long-term average. Red stripes are hotter than average years, while blue stripes are years that were cooler. (Climate Central, Source: NOAA)

University of Reading climate scientist Ed Hawkins first created the iconic graphic to illustrate long-term increases in world temperatures. Each colored stripe represents the annual average temperature for a specific year as compared to the long-term average. 

Red stripes represent hotter-than-average years, while blue stripes are years that were cooler. A shift from blue to red stripes in recent decades illustrates how heat-trapping pollution has warmed the planet. With global temperatures breaking records in 2023 and 2024, the color scale of the stripes had to be expanded earlier than expected.

Through the #ShowYourStripes campaign, warming stripes are being featured on landmarks, sports jerseys, vehicles and more. The nonprofit organization Climate Central releases warming stripes graphics annually for 195 U.S. cities, 49 states, the country and the planet.

Bernadette Woods Placky, vice president of engagement and chief meteorologist at Climate Central, spoke recently about the initiative with VoLo Foundation’s Carlos Roa. The initiative is intended to drive change, Placky said.

“Big change starts with informed people. As more people understand what’s at stake and speak up, we build momentum for clean energy, better transit, sustainable choices,” she said. “Conversations drive culture, and culture drives systems.”

Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here. To support The Invading Sea, click here to make a donation. If you are interested in submitting an opinion piece to The Invading Sea, email Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. Banner image: A bus covered in warming stripes in the town of Reading in England, where they were first created. (km30192002, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons).

Tags: #ShowYourStripes campaignClimate CentralEd HawkinsGlobal warmingShow Your Stripes Daytemperature trendswarming stripes
Previous Post

Stripes that spark action: A global invitation to talk climate 

Next Post

Supreme Court changes the game on federal environmental reviews

Next Post
An oil pumpjack in Texas (iStock image)

Supreme Court changes the game on federal environmental reviews

Twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube

About this website

The Invading Sea is a nonpartisan source for news, commentary and educational content about climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida. The site is managed by Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

 

 

Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest climate change news and commentary in your email inbox by visiting here.

Donate to The Invading Sea

We are seeking continuing support for the website and its staff. Click here to learn more and donate.

Calendar of past posts

June 2025
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« May   Jul »

© 2022 The Invading Sea

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Multimedia
  • Public opinion
  • About

© 2022 The Invading Sea

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In