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Every Month This Year Has Been the Hottest In Recorded History (vice.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the having-a-heat-wave dept.

Slashdot reader iONiUM quotes an article from Vice that calls attention to the fact that record-setting temperatures in July are just part of the story: On Wednesday, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that July was the hottest month ever recorded on our planet, since modern record-keeping began in 1880. NASA has reached the same conclusion. July smashed all previous records... "We should be absolutely concerned," [NOAA climatologist] Sanchez-Lugo said. "We need to look at ways to adapt and mitigate. If we don't, temperatures will continue to increase"...

But the truth is that record-breaking temperatures, month after month, year after year, are starting to look less like an exception, more like the norm.
In fact, CityLab reports that the earth has now experienced 14 consecutive months of unprecedented hotness. Although July stands out, Vice notes that "each consecutive month in 2016 has broken its own previous record (May was the hottest May, April the hottest April, etc.)..."

9 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. "Ghandi" quote updated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First they laugh at the science. Then they ignore the science. Then they actively fund bullshit artists to obfuscate the science. Then they burn.

    1. Re:"Ghandi" quote updated by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't know where these figures are coming from but here in SoCal, we've had a pretty mild summer. Not nearly as hot as some years gone by.

      For the millionth time - weather is not climate.

      If the entire world was Southern California your observation might be relevant to the discussion. OTOH if the entire world was Southern California, global warming would be the least of our problems.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:"Ghandi" quote updated by judoguy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      For the millionth time, if it's hot it's climate change and we need a totalitarian state to fix it. If it's cold it's weather.

      --
      Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
    3. Re: "Ghandi" quote updated by WarJolt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why bother?

      The only solutions anyone actually listens to are ones that promote political agendas despite having a negligible affect on climate change.

      I don't have a problem with solutions that involve science and technology, but it's rediculous to think that somehow a change in tax codes are going to solve the climate problem. Every time a politician opens their mouth on the subject it polarizes people. Of all the topics to be divisive about this certainly is going to be looked upon as the most rediculous. What we need is everyone behind the brilliant minds that will fix these problems and I really doubt that's going to be some random /. reader.

    4. Re: "Ghandi" quote updated by Aristos+Mazer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why is it ridiculous? Shifts in tax policy have driven all sorts of things in our national and global behavior. Why would climate change be any different? I'm not saying it's the right solution, but it certainly is a solution that would work, based on the evidence of other venues. Look at what a shift in tax policy did to home ownership rates (drove it up massively during the 20th century, exactly as designed... for good or for ill, but exactly as designed by policy makers). Or to protection of rhinos worldwide (saved them from extinction by pricing the horns out of reach). Look what it is doing right now to the adoption rate of renewable energy sources. Lots of other examples.

    5. Re: "Ghandi" quote updated by AK+Marc · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So you deny the issue exists because you believe it does, but you don't like the solution options. That seems more absurd than picking an Al Gore solution, even though you hate the man.

      --
      Learn to love Alaska
  2. Re:not in my state by Black+Parrot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We have been experiencing well below average temperatures. Hog wash.

    That's why they call it "global" warming, instead of, say, "found a place where it isn't" warming.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  3. Re:I've seen this before by FatLittleMonkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let's look at this again in six months, when we know the entire year's temperatures, before we make claims of global warming.

    "In fact, CityLab reports that the earth has now experienced 14 consecutive months of unprecedented hotness."

    Right there in the summary.

    --
    Science is all about firing a drunk pig out of a cannon just to see what happens.
  4. Re:Recorded history by serviscope_minor · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Saying "recorded history" to be 137 years is like sticking your hand out the window and saying we are in a record drought because it has not rained in the last 15 seconds. There is nothing to compare with those 137 years.

    A record drought literally means it's one which is a record as in the biggest recorded. Nonetheless, comparing to 315e6 years ago is meaningless since so much was different then, for example the positions of the continents.

    To use your analogy. if you flip a 120 sided coin 315,000,000 times and the last 15 comes up 120 is is not actually significant.

    120^15/315e6 = 4.8911e+22

    I'd say that's pretty significant.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.