June is the fourth month of 2015 to break global temperature records since record-keeping began more than 136 years ago, said a statement just released by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA).
“The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for June 2015 was the highest for the month of June since record-keeping began in 1880,” the agency said.
February, March and May also were the warmest on record, with January and April following close behind, Science Recorder reports.
Combined average global temperatures on both land and sea for June 2015 surpassed last year’s record by 0.22 degrees Fahrenheit (0.12 degrees Celsius). The period of July 2014 to June 2015 is the warmest 12-month period ever, NOAA says.
The world’s oceans also were the warmest on record.
Global sea surface temperature in June was 1.33 degrees Fahrenheit (0.74 Celsius) greater than the 20th-century average of 61.5 degrees Fahrenheit (16.4 degrees Celsius).
“Nine of the ten highest monthly departures from average have occurred since May 2014,” said the agency.
Record high temperatures prevailed in parts of South America, Africa and Asia as well as in the western United States. California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah all recorded higher-than-ever temperatures, noted USA Today.
Scandinavia, on the other hand, was an anomaly. It escaped the warming trend and even saw one of its coolest Junes since record-keeping began there in 1900. Parts of the North Atlantic region also were colder than average.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the world has seen 13 of the 14 hottest years ever recorded, according to a report by Bloomberg Business.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a better than 90 percent chance that El Nino conditions, which generate more than normal rainfall and increase the risks of flooding, will be present in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter of 2015/2016.
“The current atmospheric and oceanic features reflect an ongoing and strengthening El Nino,” the NOAA statement said.
