These stripes look like a barcode, comprised of lines that turn increasingly red from left to right. Here's a look at where they come from and what they mean
You've probably already seen them on a placard at a climate march, on television on a US senator's badge, at Fashion Week or even on a soccer player's jersey. Now famous, these so-called 'warming stripes' have become a new symbol to represent global warming. So where do they come from and what do they mean?
These stripes look like a barcode, comprised of lines that turn increasingly red from left to right. The so-called 'warming stripes' have gained significantly in popularity and are now considered one of the most widespread symbols of global warming. And this graphic representation is based on serious stuff, since it was designed by British climatologist Ed Hawkins, a professor at the University of Reading. The scientist, who also co-authored the last two IPCC reports, designed these 'climate stripes' in 2018, purposely leaving out words and numbers. "Just a series of vertical colored bars, showing the progressive heating of our planet in a single, striking image," explains Ed Hawkins on the University of Reading website.