[off camera] The last two year broke former global temperature records, so all eyes
are on 2016. NASA just released its
updated global temperature analysis for the first six months of the year.
We have Dr. Compton Tucker with us to talk to us about
the new findings. Thanks for joining us. [Tucker] I'm happy to be here
Yes it's correct. What NASA has done is we've analyzed the surface temperature
data for the first six months of every year and
we found that January to June 2016 was the warmest
first half of every year all the way back to 1880.
[off camera] And what are some of the impacts of this heat?
[Tucker] Some of the impacts we see when we look at the map where the warmer temperatures are
they're all in the far north. And so NASA is also studying
ice in the Arctic Ocean and ice in Greenland.
[off camera] So NASA scientists are actually in the Arctic right now. How are they
observing these changes?
[Tucker] What NASA scientists are doing right now
based out of Alaska, they have a project called Operation IceBridge
where they fly NASA instruments, the same instruments we have on satellites
They fly them in airplanes, so they are much closer to the surface
They fly over the Arctic Ocean to study Arctic sea ice.
They fly them over Greenland to study the ice sheet in Greenland.
[off camera] How does the science help us plan for the future?
[Tucker] It's important to collect observations so you understand what's happening
and where it's happening. With satellites we go around the Earth
every day, we have a lot of satellite data. We know about weather patterns
and the jet stream. And we also know about droughts
and we also know about forest fires. Because droughts and forest fires are
caused both when it's very warm and it doesn't rain for
a period of time. These are very important things to know
about them. [off camera] Where can we go to learn more?
[Tucker] You can learn more about this by going to hashtag #Earth
Right Now. There's lots of information which NASA provides.
[off camera] Thank you so much Dr. Compton Tucker. [Tucker] You're welcome.