2020 in Review: Global Temperature Rankings

The global temperature analyses are in, with NASA ranking 2020 as the warmest year on record (tied with 2016), and NOAA ranking it as the second warmest (see methodology below).  Combining their data, 2020 was 2.25°F (1.25°C) over the 1881-1910 baseline normal. 

The top 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2000—this outsized frequency of record high global temperatures is another symptom of climate change.

Despite La Niña conditions emerging in the second half of the year, 2020 was still able to secure a spot as one of the two warmest years on record because we continue to emit greenhouse gases that warm our planet.

With annual global temperature numbers in, Ed Hawkins added a 2020 stripe to his famous warming stripes.