2015 Isn't Over Yet, But It's Already Breaking Heat Records

Last year was, at the start of 2015, the hottest year on record. We're only half way through this year, however, and it is already breaking heat records. If it keeps this up, 2015 will overtake 2014 as the hottest year on record, a song we're likely to hear more often as climate change continues to worsen. The information comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, and the Japan Meteorological Agency, among others. All of them have pointed toward June having been record-smashing hot.

According to NOAA, the first half of this year was the warmest on record, meaning it beat the heat experienced during the first half of 2014. In addition, last month was so hot that it was the fourth highest month to depart so drastically for the monthly average. El Nino is partly to blame, but isn't enough to be solely responsible.

The last decade and a half has seen record-breaking years in terms of hot temperatures, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. El Nino, in this case, is merely helping push the temperatures even higher, making it likely 2015 will end up beating 2014 as the hottest year on record.

Other statistics are notable, such as June being the third month out of this year to thus far break its own temperature record. May and March both also hold this distinction.

Record heat could, in particular, be found in the western regions of the United States, central and western Africa, central Asia, regions of South America, and regions in SE Asia. There were some areas that had lower-than-average temperatures, as well, like northern Pakistan and western Greenland.

SOURCE: Mashable