Earth Breaks Heat Record

Since recording began in 1880, 2015 and 2016 were the hottest years on record, with 2016 leading by a little. These temperatures, spurred by both global warming and El Niño, increased the 20th century average by .94 degrees celsius. This was .04 degrees celsius warmer than 2015. In 2016, eight months set new all time highs, and July was the hottest month on record. This, now including 2017 so far, has made it the three hottest years in a row, since 1939-1941. However, these three past consecutive years no longer are ranked in the top 30 warmest years. The increase in greenhouse gases due to the excessive use of fossil fuels and other things, have augmented global temperatures, because they have trapped warm, rising air in the atmosphere instead of letting some escape into space. In addition to this, the past 16 years in the 21st century are all ranked in the top 17 warmest years recorded.

However 2015-2016 can’t solely blame global warming because El Niño, was more potent than before. El Niño is a series of climatic changes in the equatorial Pacific, and is characterised by unusually warm and wet weather that affects countries worldwide, in different ways. Most commonly, however, El Niño is associated with the release of pent up heat from the ocean and into the atmosphere. Many scientists have predicted that 2016 with El Niño, will be what future years come to on a regular basis.

One of the negative effects of global warming is the impact it has on global sea ice coverage. As the temperatures increase, more and more ice melts, leaving only 16 million square kilometers of ice on the planet.As more of this ice melts, sea levels rise, and animals lose their habitats. If the sea levels were to rise 20 feet, which they will if we don’t fix these problems New York City will flood, and many other places at sea level now will be destroyed. This will both cripple the economy and the ability to communicate effectively, resulting in high levels of panic and chaos.