The warmest year on record for the third straight time
For the third consecutive year, a new global annual temperature record has been set, according to NOAA and NASA.
<img src="https://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/includes/columns/climatewx/2017/590x455_01181946_january-december-2016-global-temp-percentiles-map.jpg"/>
Last year averaged 0.94 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average for global land/ocean surface combined. This beats out the previous record of +0.90 C which was set in 2015.
Last year was also the 40th consecutive year that the average annual global temperature was above the 20th century average.
NOAA also reported that there was a string of eight consecutive high monthly temperature records (Jan-Aug) that were set in 2016.
All 16 years of this century rank among the 17 warmest on record; the records go back to 1880.
The five warmest years on record have all occurred since 2010, according to NOAA.
The strong El Nino during early 2016 clearly had an overall warming influence on the planet in addition to the record warmth of the global oceans. However, El Nino cannot explain most of this warming. Clearly, the steady increase in atmospheric, man-made greenhouse gas concentration is playing the lead role.
NOAA also reported that global annual temperatures are increasing at a rate of 0.07 degrees Celsius per decade since 1880, but have increased at a rate of 0.17 C since 1970.
There was also a higher number of extreme precipitation and drought events that occurred across the world in 2016. This is in line with climate change impact projections.
<strong>NASA</strong>
NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) also reports that 2016 was the warmest year on record globally.
Last year averaged 0.99 C above the 1951-1980 average for land/ocean surface combined, according to NASA.
The previous record was set in 2015 with an a temperature departure of +0.87 degrees Celsius.
The Northern Hemisphere was also the warmest on record last year with an average temperature departure of +1.27 C, which beats out the previous record of +1.13 C set in 2015.
-----
I predict that 2017 will not be as warm as 2016 or 2015, but I still think that there is a good chance that it will still rank in the top 7. Clearly, we will have a better idea of where 2017 will be headed as we get into the spring.
