12 straight months of record-breaking global heat

20.05.16 By
This article is more than 7 years old

Earth has now experienced an unprecedented 12 straight months of record-breaking temperatures, new data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed.

The average surface temperature for April 2016 was 1.10°C above the 20th century average – making it the highest temperature departure for April since global records began in 1880.

April 2016 also marks the twelfth consecutive month to break its annual temperature record, the longest such streak in NOAA’s 137 years of record keeping.

In Australia, the mean temperature for April was the second-hottest on record at 2.00°C above average.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it’s Australia’s warmest start to the year since national records began in 1910.

The scientific case for urgent action to tackle climate change could not be more clear.

Find out more about Australia’s record-breaking Autumn here, and for all the details on April’s record-breaking heat head to the NOAA website.