Artist - Tim Eagan
According to NOAA, 2012 was not only the warmest year on record for the lower 48 states, it was also the 10th warmest year on record for the planet.
“Including 2012, all 12 years to date in the 21st century rank among the 14 warmest in the 133-year period of record,” NOAA said in a statement. “Only one year in the 20th century -- 1998 -- was warmer than 2012.”