Apr 19, 2017
March set a remarkable new record for global warming, NOAA reports
by
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ThinkProgress
Global monthly temperature departures (from 1981–2010 average) color-coded by whether the Pacific was experiencing an El Niño (red), a La Niña (blue) or neutral conditions (gray). Image: NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that last month set an unusual and unexpected new record for global warming.
No month before March 2017 had ever exceeded the “normal” temperature (the 1981–2010 average) by a full 1.8°F (1.0°C) — “in the absence of an El Niño episode in the tropical Pacific Ocean.”
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[W]hen a month sees record high global temperatures in the absence of an El Niño, that is a sign the underlying global warming trend is stronger than ever.