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Global monthly mean surface temperature anomaly for February 2016 have eclipsed the last year’s record by 0.4°C, reaching 1.35°C. The previous monthly record, set in January 2016 was 1.14°C and last year’s annual record was 0.84°C. These temperature anomalies are calculated against a baseline period of 1951-1980, so this increase doesn’t represent the full change since the industrial revolution.
While the high January and February monthly average don’t necessarily indicate what the annual average will be, they do suggest that we are in for another hot year, and the high-ambition goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C might be more challenging than predicted.
For further information see:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/03/februarys-global-temperatures-rose-to-a-startling-new-high/
Monthly temperature anomaly from base period of 1951-1980. Figure courtesy of NOAA GISS (http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs_v3/).
