State of the Climate 2012
Comprehensive update compiled by hundreds of scientists
2012 was one of the 10 warmest years on record globally according to the 2012 State of the Climate report released by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The report provides a broad range of measurements from ocean heat content to Arctic sea ice extent to temperatures in the stratosphere. They build a picture that is consistent with warming climate.
The peer-reviewed report with scientists form NOAA's National Climatic Data Center as lead editors, was compiled by 384 scientists from 52 countries. It provides a detailed update on global climate indicators, notable weather events, and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments on land, sea, ice, and sky. Some key findings for indicators in 2012:
- Warm temperatures continue near Earth's surface
- La Niña dissipates into neutral conditions
- The Arctic continues to warm; sea ice extent reaches record low
- Sea surface temperatures increase
- Sea level reaches record high
- Cool temperature trends continue in Earth’s lower stratosphere
Source: Source: NOAA [1]