Environmental Science & Technology Online News, January 24, 2007

WARMEST YEAR YET FOR U.S.

[Rachel's introduction: No surprise here: In the U.S. 2006 was the warmest year ever recorded.]

NOAA reports that 2006 was the warmest year on record for the continental U.S.

Last year's average temperature made 2006 the warmest on record for the contiguous U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The previous record-breaking year was 1998.

The remarkable records partly stem from December temperatures, the warmest reported for a handful of New England states and Minnesota, which was more than 8 deg. C above average for most of the month. Although the anomalously warm start to this year's winter is attributable to an active El Nino season, NOAA acknowledges that greenhouse gases account for some portion of the overall warming trend. The past 9 years have made the list of the 25 warmest years in recorded history for the U.S.

Copyright 2007 American Chemical Society