Indeed. Last year’s land surface temperature record is shared down to the second decimal with the year 2005, today’s NOAA report states.

Last year the world was 0.62 C hotter than the 20^th Century average (13.9°C) – that already includes part of the warming since preindustrial times. According to the leading NASA GISS dataset 1998 [Oops. No. That would in fact be 2009] ranks third. [And 2007 fourth.] All other hottest years in the top 10 are from the 21^st Century [supplemented with 1998].

We can only conclude the trend line continues.

© Rolf Schuttenhelm | www.bitsofscience.org