Did global temperature increase or drop in the last 2 years (2017-2018)?

Global Temperatures: What Really Happened in 2017 and 2018?

Let’s talk about the Earth’s climate – it’s a beast, right? Trying to make sense of temperature changes can feel like reading tea leaves. But understanding whether things are generally heating up or cooling down is super important. So, what about 2017 and 2018? Did we see a spike, a dip, or what? Well, according to the folks at NASA and NOAA, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but the overall direction is definitely still pointing upwards.

2017: Hot, Hot, Hot!

Seriously, 2017 was a scorcher. Both NASA and NOAA – and these guys know their stuff – basically said it was one of the warmest years we’ve ever clocked i, j. NASA even ranked it as the second warmest since they started keeping records back in 1880 i. NOAA was just a hair cooler, putting it in third place j. Different ways of crunching the numbers, I guess, but the message is clear: 2017 kept the warming trend alive and kicking.

What’s really striking? NASA said that the average global temperature was a whopping 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.90 degrees Celsius) above what was normal between 1951 and 1980 i. And NOAA chimed in, saying it was 0.84 degrees Celsius (1.51 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the 20th-century average j. Here’s the kicker: 2017 didn’t even have a major El Niño to goose those numbers. Usually, when El Niño shows up, it’s like throwing gasoline on a fire, temperature-wise.

2018: Still Cooking

So, what about the year after? Did we get a break? Nope. 2018 kept the heat coming. NASA and NOAA both declared it the fourth warmest year on record since 1880 k. You know, it’s getting to the point where “warmest year on record” doesn’t even feel that special anymore, does it? It’s like, “Oh, another one?”

NASA’s data showed 2018 was 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 1951-1980 average k. NOAA’s take? 1.42 degrees Fahrenheit (0.79 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average k. Same story, different verses.

The Bottom Line

• Warming Continues: 2017 and 2018? Both crazy warm, keeping that long-term warming trend chugging along i, j, k.
• Top of the Pops: Get this: the last five years (2014-2018) are the warmest ever recorded i, j, k. That’s not a coincidence.
• No Cooling Trend: Forget about any cooling. The trend is still heading north i, j, k.
• We’re the Culprits: And the big reason? Us. All the carbon dioxide and other junk we’re pumping into the atmosphere i, j, k.

Zooming Out

Look, focusing on just two years is like only seeing two trees in a forest. The big picture is what matters. Since the 1880s, the planet’s average temperature has climbed about 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) . That might not sound like much, but it’s enough to cause some serious headaches: rising sea levels, melting ice, and weather that’s just plain bonkers.

Sure, natural stuff like El Niño and La Niña can mess with temperatures for a bit. But the underlying trend? It’s screaming upwards. Scientists pretty much agree: the Earth’s warming, and we’re the ones holding the thermostat . Ignoring this isn’t an option. We need to get our act together, understand what’s happening, and make some smart choices about the future.