2015 was by far hottest in modern times

Measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas most responsible for global warming, continued to set new monthly records in 2015 – for the first time on record, routinely above 400 parts per million (ppm), NASA said.

Last year was the hottest year in recorded history, scientists said Wednesday. In previous years when we saw records being set, the gap remained significantly smaller than what we witnessed this time around. According to the agencies, average global temperatures have increased 1.8 degrees F since the late 19th century and are 1.62 degrees F above the 20th century average.

2016 is forecasted to be warmer than 2015 as the effects of the El Nino could drive the temperatures upward.

However, they added that 2015 was “remarkable” even in the context ofEl Niño, and that the overall trend toward the warming of the planet was undeniable.

The announcements didn’t come as a surprise, with 10 out of the 12 months a year ago being the warmest for their respective months on record.

Previous year was the planet’s hottest since record-keeping began in 1880, according to NASA and NOAA. Few months ago, scientists started predicting a global temperature record because of the El Niño weather pattern, one of the largest in a century. Separately, NOAA says, land and ocean temperatures also easily set new records in 2015.

Two U.S. government agencies, NASA and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, compile separate analyses of the global temperature, based upon thousands of weather stations and ocean buoys scattered around the world.

A National Climate Assessment study of tree rings, ice cores, and corals showed that temperatures over the last several decades are “clearly unusual”, and warmer than any time in the last 1300 years, “or longer”.

“This new record highlights how critical it was to get an agreement in Paris and the importance of countries not only following through on their commitments, but going further”, Caldas said in a statement.

The coldest year on record was 1911, while the coldest month ever recorded was December 1916.

Year 2015 broke the record as the warmest year since 1880. Asia and South America had their warmest years and Africa and Europe their second warmest.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz said in December at a hearing on climate change science that there had been no significant global warming for the past 18 years. Many regions across western Canada also had their warmest summer on record.