Friday Top of the Scroll: The permanent heat wave — 2020 rivals 2016 for Earth’s hottest year on record
The year 2020 was either tied for the hottest on record or second hottest — an unwelcome distinction whichever you choose to go with. Two reports released Thursday by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while measuring heat a bit differently, both show the planet was more than 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer last year than the 20th century average, highlighting an unrelenting shift toward a hotter and less-hospitable future. The heat hit California head on.
Related articles:
- San Jose Mercury News: 2020 was hottest year on record, NASA scientists say
- The New York Times: Where 2020’s Record Heat Was Felt the Most
- Washington Post: 2020 rivals hottest year on record, pushing Earth closer to a critical climate threshold