The year 2012 was among the 10 warmest years on record

The United Nation’s weather agency has confirmed that 2012 was the ninth warmest year since record keeping began in 1850, and the 27^th consecutive year that global land and ocean temperatures were above average.

A heat wave caused record temperatures last summer in Canoga Park, Calif. U.N. meteorologists say 2012 was the ninth hottest year since 1850.

Last year exceeded the global average temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit despite the cooling influence of a La Nina weather pattern. The years 2001 to 2012 were all among the top 13 warmest years on record.

A La Niña year happens when Pacific Ocean surface water temperatures north and south of the equator are colder than average. An El Niño year is the opposite, when the water temperatures are higher than normal, making for wetter winters.

Although natural climate variability has always resulted in extremes, the physical characteristics of extreme weather and climate events are being increasingly shaped by climate change. Hurricane Sandy caused about 130 death and tens of billions of dollars in damage in the eastern United States and killed nearly 100 people in the Caribbean and Typhoon Bopha the deadliest tropical cyclone of the year, hit the Philippines – twice – in December.

Overall, climate change has become a source of uncertainty for climate-sensitive economic sectors like agriculture and energy. Portions of the United States and southeastern Europe experienced extreme drought conditions in 2012, while West Africa was severely hit by extreme flooding.


http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-2012-record-heat-20130502,0,2784525.story