Last year was the hottest ever recorded globally, according to NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data.
The figure accounts for both air and ocean temperatures — overall, temperatures were 1.24 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average of 57 degrees. Of the top 10 hottest years ever recorded, nine of them have occurred since the turn of the century.
Ocean temperatures in 2014 were at their hottest ever since records began in 1880, checking in at 1.03 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average of 60.9 degrees F. Land surface temperature was about 1.8 degrees F above the annual 20th century average of 47.3 degrees F, amounting to the fourth-hottest year for air temperatures.
“Much of the record warmth for the globe can be attributed to record warmth in the global oceans,” NOAA said.
Scientists blame humans for much of recent warming trends, which they say humans are driving largely through burning greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels.
Gavin Schmidt, deputy director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said he didn’t anticipate global warming would subside any time soon, as he said long-term trends were “attributable” to greenhouse gas emissions.
“We may anticipate further record highs in years to come,” he told reporters in a Friday conference call.
The news comes as the Senate prepares to take a possible vote on whether its members agree with the scientific findings man-made climate change. A number of Democrats have offered such amendments to a bill that would authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he wouldn’t block those or any other measures.
Many Republicans acknowledge humans contribute to climate change but question how much that activity is responsible for current and long-term trends. Some are skeptical human activity has much of an influence at all.
Democrats said the data released Friday increased the urgency for undertaking policies that would reduce emissions.
“Deniers must stop ignoring these alarms if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
