Global temperatures in 2018 were the fourth warmest on record, US government scientists have confirmed, adding to a stretch of five years that are now collectively the hottest period since modern measurements began. This means 2018’s average global temperatures were the fourth warmest since 1880, placing it behind 2016, 2017 and 2015. The Arctic, which had its second warmest year on record, experienced temperature highs that astonished scientists. “2018 is yet again an extremely warm year on top of a long-term global warming trend,” said Gavin Schmidt, director of Nasa’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Upward trendOn Wednesday, the World Meteorological Organisation announced it, too, measured 2018 as the fourth warmest on record.

Source: The Irish Times February 06, 2019 18:38 UTC