July was the hottest month on Earth in 135 years, and 2015 is building up to be the hottest year to date since records began.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth’s average temperature for the month was 16.6°C, which is 0.81°C above the 20th century average. It surpassed a previous record set in 1998 by 0.08°C.
Last month’s average temperatures were 0.75°C higher than the average experienced throughout the 20th century.
For the year to date, temperatures worldwide have been 0.85°C above the 20th century average. This year’s January to July period has been the hottest to record since 1880, beating the record set in 2010 by 0.09°C.
This could be further proof that planet is warming, with nine of the 10 hottest months on record happening since 2005.
As well, ocean water temperatures were 0.67°C above the 20th century average, and warming temperatures are also evident with the diminishing size of Arctic sea ice.
In July, it was 906,000 square kilometres (9.5%) below the average from 1981 to 2010.
However, the Antarctic sea ice during the same month was 622,000 square kilometres (3.8%) above the average during the same period.
Click on these maps for enlarged versions.
Image: NOAA
Image: NOAA
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