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2006 Recorded as the Warmest in 112 Years!
Two thousand and six has broken a weather record that has some climate experts worried. Last year was the warmest year recorded for the United States in the past 112 years. Average U.S. temperatures were 2.2 degrees higher than any recorded in the entire 20th century.
Why would just 2.2 degrees be a big deal? The National Climatic Data Center, which released the data, says the warm weather in 2006 was part of a larger warming trend that has been happening for the last nine years. And, says the agency, one factor causing the change may be increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Such carbon dioxide produced from factories and cars can lead to global warming. That could lead to melting polar ice caps, droughts, and flooding.
The word weather is used to talk about temperatures in the short-term. The word climate means the average weather of a place for a period of 30 years. It includes precipitation - such as rain or snow - and temperatures. It is the climate's long-term pattern that concerns scientists.
By studying the weather changes from year to year, scientists can determine a lot about global climate changes. We may like to see flowers bloom in December, but experts say it could indicate permanent changes in the global climate. That's why scientists will be watching their thermometers closely in 2007 and beyond.
Did you get all that? Let's make sure by playing this week's Just the Facts game!
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