Last for this week, something just to note very briefly,This past September was the warmest since records began in 1880, according to new data released by NASA. The announcement continues a trend of record or near-record breaking months, including May and August of this year.
The newly released data makes it likely that 2014 will go down as the warmest year on record, records which go back 134 years.
The map here shows the temperature anomalies in September compared to the 1951-1980 average. That is, the difference in temperatures in various regions between September 2014 and the average of the 30 Septembers from 1951 to 1980.
The yellow regions were warmer than average; the orange ones even warmer than that; the red ones warmer still. (The figures are in degrees Celsius.) This September, some areas were nearly 9 degrees Celsius - over 15 degrees Fahrenheit - warmer than average.Although these temperature records are significant, they are, of course, just a few data points. What's important is that they are part of the overall record, the overall mass of data points, that together point to the long-term trends of warming. They indicate that the world is still warming, the warming has not stopped, and the threat continues to grow.
This news comes right around same time that the Pentagon is re-asserting its stance that climate change will present "major challenges" to the US military, including more and worse natural disasters and food and water shortages sparking conflict and instability around the world.
Meanwhile, only 40% of Americans believe climate change is caused by human activity.
We are so screwed.
Sources cited in links:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/warmest-september_n_5978678.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/climate-change-military_n_5975734.html
http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/section-7-global-warming-environment-and-energy/
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