Record Temperatures in July and August Broken

If you were among those who felt that this summer's heat was more intense than in previous years, you were correct. Data from NASA indicates that August of this year has broken temperature records. According to The Guardian, the heat in July and August of this year has been unprecedented in the 136 years of recorded temperatures. The average temperature for August was nearly one degree Celsius higher than the average from 1951 to 1980. The year 2016 is noted as the hottest year recorded by scientists. Typically, the peak heat occurs in late June to early August, making the unprecedented heat in August (late August to early September) remarkable. Prior to this month, July of the same year was the hottest month recorded. According to Science Alert, NASA's data shows that August was the eleventh month in which global temperatures exceeded previous records. Chris Field, a climate expert, states that the frightening part of the story is that we have now reached a period where we should be surprised if a month does not break the heat record. Gavin Schmidt from NASA's space center notes that the issue of rising temperatures is not just about an increase of one hundredth of a degree each year; we need to consider the long-term effects of this warming. He mentions that the average temperature across the globe is now one degree Celsius higher than in the 19th century, and this single degree has significant impacts on polar ice, agriculture, rising sea levels, and more. Although there are still four months left in 2016, scientists say there is a 99% probability that this year will be the hottest year in recorded history, breaking last year's record.