World temps cool in 2011, but still 9th hottest year
Source: Agencies |
January 21, 2012, Saturday
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THE global average temperature last year was the ninth-warmest in the modern meteorological record, continuing a trend linked to greenhouse gases that saw nine of the 10 hottest years occurring since the year 2000, according to NASA scientists.
A separate report from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average temperature for the United States in 2011 as the 23rd warmest year on record.
The global average surface temperature for 2011 was 0.51 degrees Celsius warmer than the mid-20th century baseline temperature, said researchers at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The institute's temperature record began in 1880.
The first 11 years of the new century were notably hotter than the middle and late 20th century, according to institute director James Hansen. The only year from the 20th century that was among the top 10 warmest years was 1998.
These high global temperatures come even with the cooling effects of a strong ocean temperature pattern and low solar activity for the past several years, said Hansen.
The NASA statement said the current higher temperatures are largely sustained by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is emitted by various human activities, from coal-fired power plants to fossil-fueled vehicles to human breath.
Current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere exceed 390 parts per million, compared with 285 ppm in 1880 and 315 by 1960, NASA said.
It was also a year of record-breaking climate extremes in the US, which had 14 weather disasters with economic impact of US$1 billion or more each, NOAA said. This number does not count a pre-Halloween snowstorm in the Northeast, which is still being analyzed.
A separate report from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average temperature for the United States in 2011 as the 23rd warmest year on record.
The global average surface temperature for 2011 was 0.51 degrees Celsius warmer than the mid-20th century baseline temperature, said researchers at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The institute's temperature record began in 1880.
The first 11 years of the new century were notably hotter than the middle and late 20th century, according to institute director James Hansen. The only year from the 20th century that was among the top 10 warmest years was 1998.
These high global temperatures come even with the cooling effects of a strong ocean temperature pattern and low solar activity for the past several years, said Hansen.
The NASA statement said the current higher temperatures are largely sustained by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is emitted by various human activities, from coal-fired power plants to fossil-fueled vehicles to human breath.
Current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere exceed 390 parts per million, compared with 285 ppm in 1880 and 315 by 1960, NASA said.
It was also a year of record-breaking climate extremes in the US, which had 14 weather disasters with economic impact of US$1 billion or more each, NOAA said. This number does not count a pre-Halloween snowstorm in the Northeast, which is still being analyzed.
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