Scorching U.S.: First Half of 2006 Sets Heat Record

[Galactus]

By Sara Goudarzi
LiveScience Staff Writer
posted: 14 July 2006
01:32 pm ET



The average temperatures of the first half of 2006 were the highest ever recorded for the continental United States, scientists announced today.

Temperatures for January through June were 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average.

Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri experienced record warmth for the period, while no state experienced cooler-than-average temperatures, reported scientists from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

Scientists have previously said that 2005 was the warmest year on record for the entire globe.

Last month the United States experienced the second warmest June since weather record keeping began in 1895.



This warming coupled with less than average precipitation caused moderate to extreme droughts in almost 45 percent of the contiguous United States. However, some areas, such as the Northeast of the country experienced record rainfalls and severe floods.

Many experts believe that such weather anomalies are the result of global warming, an average increase in the Earth's atmospheric temperature caused at least in part by human activities.

Other studies reveal consequences of a warmer climate.

According to one study, the amount of land damaged by rising temperature-induced droughts more than doubled in the last 30 years.

Meanwhile, dry conditioned have contributed to more than 50,000 wildfires in the first half of this year, an unusually high number. A study earlier this month suggests climate change has in recent years contributed to more wildfires in the Western United States.

Other studies suggest that warmer oceans and increased moisture could make for stronger hurricanes for many years to come

 

[St. of Sinners]

Global Warming is a myth started by hippies and liberals who want to bring down the good people of big business that just want to bring us happiness and candy coated smiles.

 

[bored]

It's 108 degrees in my backyard right now. I live in northeast Kansas, btw.

 

[Immortalfire]

Global Warming is a myth started by hippies and liberals who want to bring down the good people of big business that just want to bring us happiness and candy coated smiles.

Very profound

 

[Morg]

90's here with heat index of 100 and I'm heading for Vegas on Tuesday, weeee!

 

[Kurosawa]

But Global Warming isn't real. Ya, right.

 

[JLBats]

Global warming is a sham and all Al Gore did was contribute to it with his hot air.

 

[Calvin]

It had been pretty cool here in Pittsburgh for a while, but today it's terrible.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Its a hot one here in northern Illinois at exactly 100 degrees. And here I want to move to Kansas City to get a job at a museum down there. I hate hot weather.

 

[Electrix]

George Bush says Global Warming doesnt exist therefore doesnt do anything about it yet most of the world do.

I hope the White House gets hurricaned!

On a more positive note its rather warm in the UK and were having droughts

 

[Super_Child]

Global Warming is real. The world is sufferring from its affects and yet the main reason of its existence is doing nothing to stop it. Bush will burn in his own hell.

 

[St. of Sinners]

Global Warming is real. The world is sufferring from its affects and yet the main reason of its existence is doing nothing to stop it. Bush will burn in his own hell.

Yeah, whatever hippie. Get a ****in' haircut. Big business gives us happy and paves our streets with gold, like we're gonna believe you over them. You smell like pachouli.

 

[bored]

Its a hot one here in northern Illinois at exactly 100 degrees. And here I want to move to Kansas City to get a job at a museum down there. I hate hot weather.

It's Kansas City. It'll be worth it anyway. What museum, btw?

 

[Tangled Web]

You know, the heat today is the hottest it's been sense the days of Christ. So that's where they coined the phrase, "Jesus it's hot."

 

[Leto Atrides]

Yeah, whatever hippie. Get a ****in' haircut. Big business gives us happy and paves our streets with gold, like we're gonna believe you over them. You smell like pachouli.

OMG LOLOLOLOL!!! Haha, I'm glad you're here. We were really lacking in pretension around here, and I can see you're going to pick up the slack.

But yeah. It could be Global Warming, or it could be a particularly warm summer. The climate changes by itself; it might be us, it might not be. At this point, it's hard to determine whether it's Global Warming or just the climate being cyclic, IMO. It's definitely possible, but I don't see this as any kind of proof.

 

[Tangled Web]

It is global warming, check out An Inconvinient Truth, this is very real.

 

[St. of Sinners]

OMG LOLOLOLOL!!! Haha, I'm glad you're here. We were really lacking in pretension around here, and I can see you're going to pick up the slack.

The Hype's never been lacking in pretention, it has however been home to so many who scrape the bottom of the barrel of wit.

 

[Darthphere]

Al Gore invented the internet and global warming.

 

[Slipknot]

It's friggin hot here in Boston. Ugh, it sucks. I'd take winter anyday over this kind of humidity and such. Spring and fall are the best seasons.

 

[St. of Sinners]

and manbearpig