| April 15, 2010 |  |
Last Month Hottest March on Record, Warmer Season Provides a Preview of a Warmer Future
Statement by Climate Scientist Melanie Fitzpatrick, Union of Concerned Scientists
WASHINGTON (April 15, 2010) – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today announced that the combined global land and ocean average surface temperature in March was 1.39 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average. NOAA concluded that the average ocean temperature was the warmest for any March and the global land surface temperature was the fourth warmest for any March on record. Additionally, the Earth just experienced the fourth warmest January to March period on record.
The monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis, which is based on records stretching back to 1880, is just one of a suite of climate services NOAA provides. NOAA’s finding for last month was echoed by NASA’s Goddard Institute, which found the combined average global land-surface air temperature in March was a record-breaking 1.9 degrees F above the 20th century average.
According to Melanie Fitzpatrick, a climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, the recent data are part of an overarching trend. Below is a statement by Fitzpatrick.
“The continuing warming trend of temperatures worldwide explodes the global cooling myth contrarians have been peddling for the past several years. While we can’t draw strong conclusions from a single month, we know that global warming will bring more record-breaking temperatures in the future. Hot months are just a harbinger of a future that could include more heat waves, more droughts, and species extinctions as animals attempt to migrate to colder areas and run out of habitat. The good news is that the degree to which global warming affects our economy and environment is ultimately up to us. If we significantly reduce emissions, we can avoid the worst effects of climate change.”
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The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
