The new 2021 2021 State of the Climate report was released by NOAA today. It is the work of more than 530 scientists from 67 countries around the world and summarizes the climate and extreme weather of 2021.

2021 Highlights: State of the Climate

The report’s climate indicators show patterns, changes and trends of the global climate system. Examples of the indicators include various types of greenhouse gases; temperatures throughout the atmosphere, ocean, and land; cloud cover; sea level; ocean salinity; sea ice extent and snow cover. 

Report highlights include these indications of a warming planet: 

  • The dominant greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—all reached new record highs
  • Lake surface temperatures were their highest on record
  • Annual global sea surface temperature was lower than 2019 and 2020 due in large part to La Niña, yet still 0.29°C higher than the 1991–2020 average
  • Ocean heat content and global sea level rise reached record levels
  • Global drought continued in 2021 and peaked at 32% of global land areas in August

The direct link to the report is https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/publications/bulletin-of-the-american-meteorological-society-bams/state-of-the-climate/.