The official analysis from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in. The global average surface temperature for 2010 tied the record set in 2005.

New York Times Graphic

You’d think this hard data might slow some of the most pernicious rumors from the climate denial crowd, particularly the canard about it not getting hotter since 1998 (the previous warmest year). But unfortnately for the discussion in this country, 2010 was not particularly hot HERE. In the contiguous U.S., it was the 4th hottest summer and 23rd hottest year.
It’s easy for people to get confused when they hear these numbers or feel some cold winter temperatures in their area. But, to put this in perspective, the 48 states take up about 3.0 million square miles, compared to 57.5 million sq.mi. of global land area and 197 million sq.mi. of total surface area. What i’m saying is that it wasn’t a particularly hot year for less than 2% of the area of the globe…but an area that has enormous influence over the global debate.
And the skeptics will still latch onto 1998, even though 9 of the 10 hottest years on record have come since 2001. But the facts will win out…
(Sign up for Andrew Winston’s blog, via RSS feed, or by email. Follow Andrew on Twitter @GreenAdvantage)