Our World

Earth Close to Warmest Point in 1 Million Years

The earth may be close to the warmest it has ever been, especially in the Pacific Ocean where El Nino weather patterns are formed. El Nino temperatures can be higher than normal. This occurred in 1998 when the Super - El Nino heated the earth to a record high. The significant concern is that the temperature in 2005 reached the same record high temperature that occurred in 1998 with no sign of warm surface water in the eastern Pacific which is typical of an El Nino.

It was recorded that the water temperatures of western Pacific are warmer than the eastern Pacific. The difference of temperature could cause temperature swings between normal weather patterns and the El Nino. The Earth is 1.8 degrees within the highest temperature levels within the last million years. A steep rise in temperatures has been noted increasing 0.4 degrees within the last three decades.

This change can be related directly to global warming. Some attribute this change to the emissions of greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide). If emissions continue at the same rate we can expect temperatures of the El Nino to continue shifting. If there is a continual change in temperatures, our climate that we live in today may be adversely affected in years to come.

posted by Anonymous @ 9/25/2006 10:08:00 PM