2016 Was the Hottest Year Ever Recorded, Study Finds

In Atlanta, Georgia the temperature is a warm 73 degrees, which is over 10 degrees higher than 50 years ago. Now, new research by NASA reveals that the world is getting warmer every year.

A new research report by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reveals that 2016 was the warmest year ever recorded.

Researchers point out that the it was nearly two degrees warmer than the mid-20th century average. In turn, 2016 is the third year in a row for record setting global temperature increases.

Researchers at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) explain, that Earth’s average surface temperature has risen about 2.0 degrees since the late 1800s. In fact, researchers argue that the change is propelled by increased carbon dioxide and human-made gases emitted into the planet’s atmosphere.

NASA researchers point out that most of the global warming took place in the last 35 years, with 16 of the 17 warmest years ever taking place following 2001. In addition, researchers explain that the warmest months on record occur from January through September.

“2016 is remarkably the third record year in a row in this series,” said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt. “We don’t expect record years every year, but the ongoing long-term warming trend is clear.”

This news comes after a report revealed that the North Pole is 50 degrees above average. Researchers at Climate Central announced in a report that the Arctic region is currently experiencing record-high temperatures. More over, the weather in the Arctic region at this time of the year is typically 20 degrees below zero. However, last December the temperatures in the North Pole were above 32 degrees, which is higher the freezing point for water.

The rise in temperatures in the North Pole can have disastrous consequences for animals that depend upon the cold temperatures. For instance, scientist pointed out that in 2013 over 60,000 reindeers died in Russia as a result of warming temperatures.