AUGUST 2024 set a new monthly temperature record, marking the hottest summer on Earth since global temperature records began in 1880, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.
The announcement comes alongside new analysis that confirms the credibility of NASA’s nearly 145-year-old temperature record.
June, July, and August 2024 were about 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit (about 0.1 degrees Celsius) warmer globally than any other summer on NASA’s record, slightly surpassing the record recently set in 2023. The summer of 2024 was 2.25 F (1.25 C) warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980, and August itself was 2.34 F (1.3 C) warmer than average. June through August is considered meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
“Data from multiple monitors shows that warming over the past two years has been similar to, but well above, what has been seen in previous years, including years with strong El Niños,” said Gavin Schmidt, director of GISS. “This is a clear indication of ongoing human-caused climate warming.”
NASA compiles this temperature record, known as the GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP), from surface air temperature data obtained from tens of thousands of meteorological stations, as well as sea surface temperatures from ship-based and buoy-based instruments. The data also includes measurements from Antarctica. The analysis method takes into account variations in the distance between temperature stations around the world and the effects of urban warming that can affect the calculations.
GISTEMP analysis calculates temperature anomalies rather than absolute temperatures. Temperature anomalies show how far temperatures deviated from the baseline average from 1951 to 1980.
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New Assessment of Temperature Records
Table of Contents
- 1 New Assessment of Temperature Records
- 2 Estimating the Unknown
- 3 What Does This Mean for Recent Heat Rankings?
- 4 What factors contributed to NASA confirming August 2024 as the hottest month on record?
- 5 hottest summer on record: august 2024 breaks monthly temperature record nasa has announced that august 2024 has set a new monthly temperature record, près de france
Table of Contents
This summer record comes on the heels of new research from scientists at the Colorado School of Mines, the National Science Foundation, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), and NASA that further strengthens confidence in NASA’s global and regional temperature data.
“Our goal was to really quantify how good our temperature estimates are for any given time or place,” said lead author Nathan Lenssen, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines and project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
Researchers assert that GISTEMP accurately records the increase in surface temperatures on our planet and that the increase in global temperatures since the late 19th century cannot be explained by uncertainties or errors in the data.
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The authors build on previous work showing that NASA’s estimates of global average temperature increases have likely been accurate within a few decades of each other. For their latest analysis, Lenssen and his colleagues examined data for every region and every month going back to 1880.
Estimating the Unknown
Lenssen and his team performed rigorous statistical uncertainty calculations on the GISTEMP records. Uncertainty in science is important to understand because we can’t take measurements everywhere. Understanding the strengths and limitations of observations helps scientists assess whether they are truly seeing shifts or changes in the world.
The study confirms that one of the most significant sources of uncertainty in the GISTEMP record is local changes around meteorological stations. For example, stations that used to be in rural areas may report higher temperatures as heat-trapping asphalt and urban surfaces develop around them.
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Spatial gaps between stations also contribute some uncertainty to the records. GISTEMP addresses these gaps using estimates from nearby stations.
Previously, scientists using GISTEMP estimated historical temperatures using what are known in statistics as confidence intervals—ranges of values around a measurement, often read as a specific temperature plus or minus some fraction of a degree.
The new approach uses a method known as statistical ensemble: a spread of the 200 most likely values. While a confidence interval represents a degree of certainty around a single data point, an ensemble attempts to capture the full range of possibilities.
The distinction between the two methods is important for scientists tracking how temperatures have changed, especially where there are spatial gaps. For example: Suppose GISTEMP contains thermometer readings from Denver in July 1900, and a researcher needs to estimate conditions 100 miles away.
Instead of reporting Denver’s temperature plus or minus a few degrees, researchers can analyze many equally possible values for southern Colorado and communicate the uncertainty in their results.
What Does This Mean for Recent Heat Rankings?
Every year, NASA scientists use GISTEMP to provide an annual global temperature update, with 2023 ranking as the hottest year to date.
Other researchers have also confirmed the findings, including NOAA and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. These institutions use different, independent methods to assess Earth’s temperature. Copernicus, for example, uses a sophisticated computer approach known as reanalysis.
The records remain in broad agreement but may differ on some specific findings. Copernicus determined July 2023 was Earth’s hottest month ever recorded, while NASA found July 2024 had a slight edge.
A new ensemble analysis now shows the difference between the two months is smaller than the uncertainties in the data. In other words, they are effectively tied as the hottest.
In the larger historical record, the new ensemble estimate for the summer of 2024 is likely to be 2.52-2.86 degrees F (1.40-1.59 degrees C) warmer than the late 19th century, while 2023 is likely to be 2.34-2.68 degrees F (1.30-1.49 degrees C) warmer. (NASA/Z-3)
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What factors contributed to NASA confirming August 2024 as the hottest month on record?
Hottest Summer on Record: NASA Confirms August 2024 as Highest Monthly Temperature
In a recent announcement, NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) confirmed that August 2024 has set a new monthly temperature record, marking the hottest summer on Earth since global temperature records began in 1880. This news comes alongside new research that strengthens confidence in NASA’s nearly 145-year-old temperature record.
Record-Breaking Summer
The summer of 2024 was 2.25°F (1.25°C) warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980, and August itself was 2.34°F (1.3°C) warmer than average [1][3]. This record-breaking summer surpasses the previous record set in 2023, with June, July, and August 2024 being about 0.2°F (0.1°C) warmer globally than any other summer on NASA’s record.
Global Temperature Analysis
NASA compiles the temperature record, known as the GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP), from surface air temperature data obtained from tens of thousands of meteorological stations, as well as sea surface temperatures from ship-based and buoy-based instruments. The data also includes measurements from Antarctica [1]. The analysis method takes into account variations in the distance between temperature stations around the world and the effects of urban warming that can affect the calculations.
Confirmation from Other Institutions
Other research institutions, such as the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, have also confirmed the findings using different, independent methods to assess Earth’s temperature [2]. Copernicus, for example, uses a sophisticated computer approach known as reanalysis. While the records remain in broad agreement, they may differ on some specific findings.
Implications of the Record-Breaking Summer
The record-breaking summer of 2024 is a clear indication of ongoing human-caused climate warming, according to Gavin Schmidt, director of GISS [1]. The data from multiple monitors shows that warming over the past two years has been similar to, but well above, what has been seen in previous years, including years with strong El Niños.
New Assessment of Temperature Records
The new research from scientists at the Colorado School of Mines, the National Science Foundation, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), and NASA further strengthens confidence in NASA’s global and regional temperature data [1]. The study confirms that GISTEMP accurately records the increase in surface temperatures on our planet and that the increase in global temperatures since the late 19th century cannot be explained by uncertainties or errors in the data.
Understanding Uncertainty
The study highlights the importance of understanding uncertainty in science, particularly when it comes to estimating temperatures in areas with limited data. The research confirms that one of the most significant sources of uncertainty in the GISTEMP record is local changes around meteorological stations, such as urbanization [1]. Spatial gaps between stations also contribute some uncertainty to the records.
Conclusion
The record-breaking summer of 2024 is a stark reminder of the ongoing climate crisis. As global temperatures continue to rise, it is essential to understand the causes and consequences of climate change. The new research and temperature records serve as a warning, and it is crucial that we take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate
hottest summer on record: august 2024 breaks monthly temperature record
nasa has announced that august 2024 has set a new monthly temperature record, près de france
Hottest Summer on Record: August 2024 Breaks Monthly Temperature Record
NASA has announced that August 2024 has set a new monthly temperature record, marking the hottest summer on Earth since global temperature records began in 1880. This announcement comes alongside new research that confirms the credibility of NASA’s nearly 145-year-old temperature record.
The Hottest Summer on Record
According to NASA, June, July, and August 2024 were about 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit (about 0.1 degrees Celsius) warmer globally than any other summer on record, slightly surpassing the record recently set in 2023. The summer of 2024 was 2.25 F (1.25 C) warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980, and August itself was 2.34 F (1.3 C) warmer than average.
This record-breaking summer is a clear indication of ongoing human-caused climate warming, according to Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). “Data from multiple monitors shows that warming over the past two years has been similar to, but well above, what has been seen in previous years, including years with strong El Niños,” Schmidt said.
New Assessment of Temperature Records
This summer record comes on the heels of new research from scientists at the Colorado School of Mines, the National Science Foundation, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), and NASA that further strengthens confidence in NASA’s global and regional temperature data. The research confirms that NASA’s estimates of global average temperature increases have likely been accurate within a few decades of each other.
The authors of the study examined data for every region and every month going back to 1880, and their analysis shows that the increase in global temperatures since the late 19th century cannot be explained by uncertainties or errors in the data.
Estimating the Unknown
To understand the strengths and limitations of temperature observations, researchers performed rigorous statistical uncertainty calculations on the GISTEMP records. The study confirms that one of the most significant sources of uncertainty in the GISTEMP record is local changes around meteorological stations, such as urban warming. Spatial gaps between stations also contribute some uncertainty to the records.
Global Temperature Rankings
According to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate observation program, the 12 months from September 2023 to August 2024 were the hottest on record for any year-long period, with a global temperature anomaly of 1.64°C above the 1991
