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Scientists say 2018 was fourth warmest year on record amid long-term fears

Although the planet was slightly cooler last year, experts fear the warming trend is ‘stunningly clear’.
Although the planet was slightly cooler last year, experts fear the warming trend is ‘stunningly clear’. Although the planet was slightly cooler last year, experts fear the warming trend is ‘stunningly clear’.

A new analysis shows that while Earth was slightly cooler last year than the previous few years, it was still the fourth warmest year on record.

With the partial US government shutdown, federal calculations for last year’s temperatures are delayed.

But independent scientists at Berkeley Earth calculate that last year’s average temperature was 58.93F (14.96C).

That is 1.39F (0.77C) warmer than the average from 1951 to 1980 and about 2.09F (1.16C Celsius) warmer than pre-industrial times.

Winter weather Jan 21st 2019
Winter weather Jan 21st 2019 The sun rises behind the old West Pier in Brighton (Andrew Matthews/PA)

It is likely other temperature measuring groups will agree on 2018’s ranking since they had it at fourth hottest through November, said Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency has already calculated it at fourth.

Record-keeping started in 1850.

Only 2016, 2017 and 2015 were warmer than last year, with only small differences among them.

That was mostly because of natural yearly weather variations like El Nino and La Nina, Mr Hausfather said.

He said it would be foolish to call last year’s slight dip a cooling trend.

Warning to Humanity
Warning to Humanity Planet Earth (Nasa/PA)

“The long term is stunningly clear,” he said.

Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann, who was not part of the Berkeley Earth team, said the fact that nearly every year recently is in the top five or top 10 hottest years is “clear evidence of human-caused warming on this planet”.

Last year, 29 countries, including much of Central Europe, and Antarctica had record hot years, Mr Hausfather said.