This June Was Earth’s Hottest Month On Record Since 1880 When NOAA Started Keeping Track
July 24, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis No shocker! We all know its been a hot summer, but very few of us have probably realized the true significance of this particular temperature rise.
Graphic courtesy of radiogreenearth.org.
“The global-averaged land surface temperature for June 2012 was the all-time warmest June on record,” said the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which began keeping track in 1880.
Many people still argue that there is no such thing as global warming, but the new data makes a freighting case for it. NOAA also reported that, “The global land surface temperature for June was above the 20th century average. This is the second month in a row that the global land temperature was the warmest on record.”
Along with the land, the oceans are getting hotter too, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. NOAA reported that, “The Northern Hemisphere land and ocean average surface temperature for June 2012 was the all-time warmest June on record.”
The data for just the land in the Northern Hemisphere had its own story to tell. “The Northern Hemisphere average land temperature, where the majority of Earth’s land is located, was record warmest for June. This makes three months – April, May, and June – in which record-high monthly land temperature records were set.”
Most areas experienced much higher-than average monthly temperatures, including most of North America, Eurasia, and northern Africa.