Warmest Decade On Record For Boston Area

BOSTON — The end of the decade is upon us. Yes, I know the mathematics crowd will respond loudly ‘No sir! Not until the end of 2020!’ But for the rest of us and the pop-culture world, no one is going to call 2020 the twenty-teens. So let us push aside our data differences and talk about what we saw here and around the world this decade.

Of course, if you’ve been following along, you know that the 2010s were the warmest decade for the globe as a whole. The planet hasn’t had a month cooler than the 20th century average since 1985, and we set new records for global warmth frequently as climate change continues to gradually push temperatures higher. The final numbers won’t be crunched until later in January, but it is likely that 2019 will be the 2nd warmest year on record just a hair behind 2016. All of the Top 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2005 with the exception of 1998, when a strong El Nino provided a significant short-term boost.

During this time, we have seen a major reduction in arctic sea ice with the 13 lowest extents in the satellite record (since 1979) occurring in the past 13 years. The dramatic loss of ice has produced major shifts in the arctic and influenced the weather down below (particularly during mid to late autumn when ice loss is most pronounced).

These rising temperatures are a product of human activities, primarily through the emissions of greenhouse gases and land use changes.

That’s the big picture, but how about here at home? We are fortunate to have the oldest, continuously running climate station in the country right here in our backyard. Blue Hill Observatory has been sitting atop Great Blue Hill, meticulously recording and observing local weather, since 1885. Surrounded by forest and quality controlled by dedicated staff, it is our best resource for studying the changes over time across southern New England.

Read more at CBS Boston