From soaring temperatures in Alaska and India to Arctic sea ice melting and CO2 concentrations rising, this year is smashing records around the world
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| Scorched land on the outskirts of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The desert state recorded India's hottest ever temperature of 51C on 19 May. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo |
2) Every month this year has been the hottest on record globally for that month. May, data published this week by Nasa revealed, was no exception. Nasa's dataset, one of three main global surface temperature records, shows February recorded the highest anomaly against long term average temperatures.
3) India recorded its hottest day ever on 19 May. The mercury in Phalodi, in the desert state of Rajasthan, rose to 51C, as a nationwide drought that has affected more than 300 million people marched on, leaving armed guards at dams, and reservoirs well below their usual levels.
4) Alaska, along with the rest of the Arctic, has experienced record-breaking heat. Spring was the warmest on record in the state, with an average temperature of 0C, and the average year-to-date temperature has been 5.5C above the long term average.
5) Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been breaking records every year for decades, but the size of the margin by which the record is forecast to break the annual record in 2016 is striking and itself a record. The increase for 2016 is expected to be 3.1 parts per million, up from an annual average of 2.1.
6) Australia, no stranger to record-breaking heat, just clocked up its hottest autumn yet. Average temperatures were 1.86C above the average, beating the previous record of 1.64C above average, set in 2005.
7) The Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder and world heritage site, experienced its worst ever coral bleaching event, as a blob of warm water made its way around the world. An aerial study found that just 7% of the reef escaped bleaching, which can lead to the coral permanently dying.
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4) Alaska, along with the rest of the Arctic, has experienced record-breaking heat. Spring was the warmest on record in the state, with an average temperature of 0C, and the average year-to-date temperature has been 5.5C above the long term average.
5) Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been breaking records every year for decades, but the size of the margin by which the record is forecast to break the annual record in 2016 is striking and itself a record. The increase for 2016 is expected to be 3.1 parts per million, up from an annual average of 2.1.
6) Australia, no stranger to record-breaking heat, just clocked up its hottest autumn yet. Average temperatures were 1.86C above the average, beating the previous record of 1.64C above average, set in 2005.
7) The Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder and world heritage site, experienced its worst ever coral bleaching event, as a blob of warm water made its way around the world. An aerial study found that just 7% of the reef escaped bleaching, which can lead to the coral permanently dying.
Links
- Shattered records show climate change is an emergency today, scientists warn
- 'Bright spots' offer fresh hope for survival of coral reefs
- The Guardian view on the Great Barrier Reef: the crisis they prefer to downplay
- April breaks global temperature record, marking seven months of new highs
- Great Barrier Reef: 93% of reefs hit by coral bleaching
- World's oceans facing biggest coral die-off in history, scientists warn
- The Great Barrier Reef and the coal mine that could kill it
- Emperor penguins at risk of extinction, scientists warn
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