The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Meteorological Society released its annual State of Climate report and the indications are not promising.
"Most of the dozens of essential climate variables monitored each year in this report continued to follow their long-term trends in 2014, with several setting new records," the report said, according to EcoWatch.
The 292-page report presented the studies of over 400 scientists around the world, who analyzed climate data from the previous year, including temperature, precipitation levels and weather conditions. The report presented highly technical facts, however, it showed one notable truth: the Earth has failed its annual check-up.
"The doctor is saying 'you are gravely ill,'" said Jeff Severinghaus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography via Associated Press.
Some of the highlights in the report include the following:
- The Earth's surface was at its hottest in 2014, which was measured with four different systems. Europe recorded "patches of extreme heat," while Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay and Australia recorded their second and third hottest years in a row.
- "Warmer-than-average conditions were present across much of the world's land and ocean surfaces during 2014," the report indicated.
- "These contributed to a global average temperature that was the highest or joint highest since records began in the mid-to-late 1800s. Over land surfaces, Eurasia and western North America were particularly warm, while noticeable cold was felt in eastern North America, which suffered several Arctic cold-air outbreaks in early 2014. The frequency of warm extreme temperatures was above average for all regions apart from North America."
- Carbon dioxide levels and greenhouses gases have risen to 397.2 parts per million (ppm), with April, May and June recording an average of 400 ppm last year. The pattern may continue again this year, according to Climate Central, which said February 2015's record was also at 400 pm.
- Ice is melting all around. Permafrost in Alaska continues to thaw at its highest rate for the second year, while the glaciers have also been shrinking. The Arctic Sea ice continues to decline, however, there have been different factors causing this other than the temperature, as wind patterns have also changed.
- There were 91 tropical cyclones that developed in 2014, eclipsing the average number of 82 per year.
The full report was published in the journal Bulletin of the American Metrological Society, with the highlights posted on Climate.Gov.
