"I'm at a loss for words." [View all]

[Hissyspit]

How dire is the situation? One National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate scientist looked at the data and remarked: "I’m at a loss for words."

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/11/summer-2015-set-to-be-worlds-hottest-ever-as-us-temperatures-again-soar

Summer 2015 set to be world's hottest ever as US temperatures again soar

US had its 12-hottest summer but seven of the warmer seasons were in last 15 years. With ocean temperatures rising, scientists warn: ‘It’s definitely not good’

Joanna Walters in New York
@Joannawalters13
Saturday 12 September 2015 08.00 EDT Last modified on Saturday 12 September 2015 08.03 EDT

New data showing that the US had its 12th-hottest summer on record may not, at first glance, appear particularly significant or alarming.

But in announcing the news, climate scientists have pointed out that, of the 11 American summers that were recorded as warmer than 2015’s, seven have occurred in the last 15 years; the other four were all during the “Dustbowl” 1930s heatwaves that plagued the US during the Great Depression.

And, as part of the climate warming trend globally, next Thursday a federal agency is set to announce the latest worldwide figures that are likely to show that it was officially the hottest summer ever recorded on the planet, and the hottest first eight months of the year to date.

- snip -

On Thursday it’s expected officially to be confirmed that the first eight months have been the warmest on record so far and the warmest three-month period June to August, constituting the hottest summer ever logged for the northern hemisphere.

Crouch pointed out that in the first seven months of 2015, worldwide figures had shown that the globe was almost a degree warmer than average and August figures are likely to have been boosted by the strengthening El Niño pattern.

“It’s extraordinary how much of the ocean is at record warm temperatures – about 75% to 80% of the world’s oceans are at record or near record warmth,” he said.

“I’m at a loss for words. It’s definitely not good.”

MORE AT LINK