Last year was the Earth's warmest since record-keeping began in 1880, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA said Wednesday.
It's been clear for quite some time that 2015 would steal the distinction of the hottest year from 2014, with 10 out of the 12 months last year being the warmest respective months on record -- and those records go back 136 years.
— CNN
The news that 2015 was the warmest year on record didn't exactly take climate scientist by surprise. But what is startling is by just how much: the average global temperature was 1.62˚F above the 20th century average.
December, in particular, reached new heights of heat, becoming the first month to ever exceed temperature averages by 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to reports, El Niño played a significant role in bringing up temperatures. It's still bearing down on the Western US right now – although not yet dumping enough precipitation to rescue California from its historic drought.
In other weather news, the East Coast is about to receive some heavy snow. Early predictions suggest this could be one of the biggest snowstorms in history.
While unusual and severe weather events comprise perhaps the most visible – and dangerous – effects of global climate change, they have been frequently co-opted by certain American politicians in the last few years to deny the reality of anthropogenic global warming.
Let's hope that doesn't happen again, just as the possibility of an effective, international climate treaty has finally appeared on the horizon.
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1 Comment
Well at least we're not heading towards an ice age. And Russia and Canada are looking up!
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