NOAA released this past week its long-awaited State of the Climate report, confirming an unequivocal pattern of warming dating back 50 years! Today's NEQ Friday Review takes a glimpse into the report which also proves the past decade was the hottest ever recorded!The State of the Climate report draws on the findings of more than 300 climate scientists from 160 research groups in 48 countries who measured 10 key indicators, including air temperature over land, sea-surface temperature, air temperature over oceans, sea level, ocean heat and humidity. The report states that the relative movement of each of these indicators proves consistent with a warming world and that each decade since the 1980s has been progressively warmer than the last, with an average warming of about one-fifth of a degree Fahrenheit per decade. To draw that conclusion researchers used data collected from over 7,000 diverse sources, such as satellites, weather balloons, weather stations, ships, buoys and field surveys.
I'd have to say that based on these factors global warming is quite undeniable. However, I do think it is important to note that while many believe it is man-made, a majority also believe it is cyclical. Whatever your backing, extreme weather events related to global warming will prevail as long as planet Earth continues on this path. From a future of rising seas to violent storms, and from drought to deluge and frigid to oppressive temperatures, this could be the rule in forecasts to come.
To learn more about the intricacies of the report and its vast importance in our everyday livelihoods and that of our warming planet, visit NOAA's release here.
Have a great weekend!
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