Isn't the more important point not the rate of increase, but the effect current temperatures are having on the ice caps? For example, I can sit a turkey in my

Isn't the more important point not the rate of increase, but the effect current temperatures are having on the ice caps? For example, I can sit a turkey in my oven at 20 degrees (c) and raise the temperature 20% per minute, but that rate of increase doesn't actually cook the bird. Once the temperature gets above 140 degrees, then cooking starts to take place (I'm not completely sure of the temps, but go with me). The temperature doesn't have to continue rising, every minute that the bird is held over a certain temperature, that bird will continue to cook. May be slow, may be long, but the damage is being done. Same with your reference to ice core measurements and melting ice caps. It doesn't matter if the temperture continues to increase at the current rate, or the rate slows. As long as the average temperature is kept above 0, the ice will continue to melt. And the article doesn't say temps are decreasing, just that the rate of increase is less than expected.