One reading from the Danish Meteorological Institute, for example, found that
over the past several days temperatures have been about 36 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average around the North Pole.
Since 1950 the number of heat waves worldwide has increased, and heat waves have become longer.5 The hottest
days and nights have become hotter and more frequent.6 7 In the
past several years, the global area hit by extremely unusual hot summertime
temperatures has increased 50 - fold.8
Over the contiguous United States, new record high temperatures over the past decade have consistently outnumbered new record lows by a ratio of 2:1.9 In 2012, the ratio for the year through June 18 stands at more than 9:1.10 Though this ratio is not expected to remain at that level for the rest of the year, it illustrates how unusual 2012 has been, and how these types of extremes are becoming more lik
Over the contiguous United States, new record high
temperatures over the past decade have consistently outnumbered new record lows by a ratio of 2:1.9 In 2012, the ratio for the year through June 18 stands at more than 9:1.10 Though this ratio is not expected to remain at that level for the rest of the year, it illustrates how unusual 2012 has been, and how these types of extremes are becoming more lik
over the
past decade have consistently outnumbered new record lows by a ratio of 2:1.9 In 2012, the ratio for the year through June 18 stands at more than 9:1.10 Though this ratio is not expected to remain at that level for the rest of the year, it illustrates how unusual 2012 has been, and how these types of extremes are becoming more likely.