2021 Was Earth’s Sixth-Hottest Year on Record, Temperature Reports Say
Earth experienced one of its hottest years on record in 2021, with new reports released Thursday by two federal agencies showing that the global average surface temperature last year reached its sixth-highest level since reliable temperature record-keeping began in 1880.
The average temperature across land and sea surfaces in 2021 was 0.84 degrees Celsius (1.51 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average for the 20th Century, according to a report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Last year marked the 45th consecutive year during which global surface temperatures were above...