January 2020, Warmest in Recorded History
On February 13, 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the planet experienced its hottest January in recorded history.[1] This is not likely to be the last record of its kind.[2] January 2020 marks the 44th consecutive January and the 421st consecutive month with temperatures above the twentieth century average.[3]
The average January temperature across land and ocean surfaces increased by 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit from the twentieth century average of 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit.[4] Previously, record-high temperatures occurred when El Niño was present in the Pacific Ocean.[5] El Niño temporarily heats the earth naturally.[6] However, with no El Niño present this year, we achieved these record-high temperatures all on our own.[7] Scientists attribute these record-high temperatures as “greenhouse gas-induced warming” producing global temperature rises.[8]
These rising global temperatures are here to stay.[9] According to statistical analysis by the NOAA, 2020 is already on track to be one of the five warmest years on record.[10]
*Featured Image: NOAA
[1] John Bateman, January 2020 was Earth’s hottest January on record, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (February 13, 2020), https://www.noaa.gov/news/january-2020-was-earth-s-hottest-january-on-record (last visited February 15, 2020).
[2] See id.
[3] Id.
[4] Denise Chow, Earth just had its hottest January in recorded history, NBC (February 13, 2020), https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/earth-just-had-its-hottest-january-recorded-history-n1136426 (last visited February 15, 2020).
[5] Hannah Levy and Brandon Miller, In 141 years of record-keeping, there has never been a warmer January, CNN (February 13, 2020), https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/13/weather/warmest-january-noaa-climate-trnd/index.html (last visited February 16, 2020).
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
