2016 was the warmest year on record, according to new data published by NASA, making this the third consecutive year to hold that dubious accolade. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement released Thursday morning that global surface temperatures were 0.74°C (1.51°F) above average for 2016, surpassing last year’s record of 2015 by Temperatures recorded in the Arctic were three degrees higher than the global mean. Although the high 2016 temperatures were in part due to a small upward push from the natural warming seen during an El Niño phase, most of the contribution towards the rising temperatures are the result of human-made emissions into the atmosphere. Despite a small upwards push from a naturally warm El Niño phase, NASA believes that these rising temperatures are due mostly to anthropogenic global warming.
2016 was the warmest year on record, according to new data published by NASA, making this the third consecutive year to hold that dubious accolade. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement released Thursday morning that global surface temperatures were 0.74°C (1.51°F) above average for 2016, surpassing last year’s record of 2015 by Temperatures recorded in the Arctic were three degrees higher than the global mean. Despite a small upwards push from a naturally warm El Niño phase, NASA believes that these rising temperatures are due mostly to anthropogenic global warming.