NASA Ranks 2013 As The 7th Warmest Year Since 1880, Confirms Global warming Trend (VIDEO)
ByAccording to the latest data compiled by NASA, the long-term climate warming trend is continuing, Counsel and Heal reported.
NASA scientists found that the global temperature for the year 2013 tied with 2009 and 2006 for the seventh warmest year since 1880, with 2010 and 2005 ranking as the warmest years on record, Counsel and Heal reported.
With the exception of 1998, nine out of the 10 warmest years in the 134-year record occurred since 2000, according to NASA.
"Long-term trends in surface temperatures are unusual and 2013 adds to the evidence for ongoing climate change," GISS climatologist Gavin Schmidt said in a statement. "While one year or one season can be affected by random weather events, this analysis shows the necessity for continued, long-term monitoring."
NASA's latest report shows that the average temperature in 2013 was 58.3 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees warmer than the average between 1951 and 1980. The average global temperature has risen about 1.4 degrees since 1880.
In their analysis, scientists emphasized that weather patterns always will cause fluctuations in average temperatures from year to year, but the continued increases in greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere are driving a long-term rise in global temperatures.
"Each successive year will not necessarily be warmer than the year before, but with the current level of greenhouse gas emissions, scientists expect each successive decade to be warmer than the previous," researchers said in a news release.
NASA scientists compiled weather data from more than 1,000 meteorological stations around the world, as well as using satellite observations of sea-surface temperature, and Antarctic research station measurements.