It reads, “Participant.” (Photo by Shorts And Longs.)
Congratulations, world! We did it again!
Data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that land temperatures in May were the highest recorded in 133 years — since records began. Combining land and ocean temperatures, it was the second-warmest May in recorded history — so the encouraging news is that there’s still room to grow. For now, prepare your acceptance speeches.
The NOAA report includes lots of detailed / terrifying graphs. Below, land temperatures as deviation from the average temperature between 1961 and 1990. The bigger the red dot, the hotter this May was than usual. Only Alaska, bits of Sweden, and Australia saw cooler than average temperatures.
When you consider the three-month period just ended, the change is even more stark. The United States has gone completely red! (Interpret this as you will.)
The NOAA also provides a look at how temperatures each year since 1883 have deviated from the mean. Land, ocean, and combined temperatures continue to climb …
… but more in the Northern Hemisphere — with its vastly higher population of humans and long history of industrialization — than the Southern.
They’ve even included this handy chart of all of the unusual and ominous events last month, for you to put on the wall of your rec room. Hang it high so the flood waters don’t get it.
Click to embiggen.
In closing, we’d like to thank decades of carbon dioxide production and a heavy reliance on automobiles for making this all possible. We couldn’t have done it without you.
