No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeClimate ChangeFirst nine months of 2015 shatter heat records worldwide

First nine months of 2015 shatter heat records worldwide

MIAMI — The first nine months of this year were the hottest on record worldwide, U.S. government scientists said Wednesday, in another sign of the impact of dangerous global warming.

The latest report, based on global average temperatures across land and sea surfaces, brings 2015 closer than ever to ousting 2014 for the most scorching year in modern times.

Last month marked the “highest September temperature in the 1880-2015 record, surpassing the previous record set last year,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in its monthly report. “The first nine months of the year were also record warm.”

So far this year, the temperature across global land and ocean surfaces has been 1.53 degrees Fahrenheit (0.85 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average, marking “the highest for January-September” in 135 years.

Seven of the first nine months of 2015 have broken monthly historical heat records.

Unusually high temperatures were seen in September across northeastern Africa, the Middle East, parts of Southeast Asia, and selected parts of North and South America.

Some cool spots were noted at the tip of South America, far western Canada, Alaska, and parts of Central Asia.

Costa Rica has recorded above-average temperatures so far this year, according to the National Meteorological Institute. In August, temperatures in Costa Rica ranged from 0.8 to 1.4 degrees Celsius (1.5 to 3 F) above normal for the month.

See also: El Niño in Costa Rica: We haven’t seen the worst of it yet, say experts

In Canada, Ontario had a record warm September, with temperatures some 9 F (5 C) above average.

The United States marked its second warmest September on record, with a temperature 3.7 F (2 C) above the 20th century average.

Norway was also among the leading heat record-breakers, while Spain saw its coldest September since 1996. Britain was also cooler than expected.

“England and Wales each observed their coolest September since 1994,” said the NOAA report.

Warmer ocean temperatures associated with El Niño in some parts of the world helped boost the September global sea surface temperature to 1.46 F (0.8 C) above the 20th century average of 61.1 F (16.2 C).

“A large patch in the Atlantic Ocean south of Greenland remained much cooler than average,” the NOAA noted.

The amount of sea ice in the Arctic last month was the fourth smallest on record.

Sea ice cover in the Antarctic was also below average for the 1981-2010 time period, marking the 16th smallest Antarctic sea ice extent on record and the smallest since 2008.

Trending Now

Costa Rica OIJ Arrests Human Trafficking Ring Exploiting Minors

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) dismantled a gang dedicated to human trafficking for the sexual exploitation of minors after carrying out 19 simultaneous raids...

Costa Rica Targets June 2026 for New High-Security Prison

Costa Rica faces a sharp increase in homicides tied to drug trafficking, putting heavy strain on its prisons. In response, the government has moved...

Why This U.S. Expat in Costa Rica Chooses Local Over Headlines

In the weeks leading up to my trip to the US, I scanned several news sites both left-leaning and right-leaning to better inform myself...

Panama Denounces New U.S. Pressure Over Chinese Companies

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday accused the United States of pressuring Panamanian officials to reduce the presence of Chinese companies in the...

Uncertainty Dominates Costa Rican Voters Ahead of 2026 Elections

A new poll from the University of Costa Rica's Center for Political Research and Studies (CIEP-UCR) paints a picture of widespread indecision among Costa...

Paris Louvre Robbery Targets Apollo Gallery Crown Jewels

Robbers wielding power tools scaled a furniture hoist outside the Louvre to make off with priceless jewelry from the world-renowned museum on Sunday, taking...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica