The average temperature on the surface of the Earth is measured each month by scientists at the US National Climatic Data Center, who then compare the figures to the average temperature for that month during the previous century. This allows scientists to detect any climate change trends and make projections about the future. As of October 2015, the last time the Earth experienced a cooler-than-average month was in February 1985. Since then, each month has had above-average temperatures, providing compelling statistical evidence that climate change is taking place.
More about the Earth’s temperature:
- Although it varies widely depending on location, the Earth’s overall average temperature is approximately 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius).
- Russia is home to the coldest inhabited location on Earth. The Siberian village of Oymyakon has an average temperature of -49 degrees Fahrenheit (-45 degrees Celsius).
- While Earth may be getting hotter, our planet's surface temperatures are positively frigid compared to Venus, the hottest planet in the solar system, where temperatures can reach over 750 degrees Fahrenheit (400 degrees Celsius).