Understanding Temperature Measurements
The primary question—“How hot is it right now?”—is central to daily decision-making. Knowing the current temperature is critical for public health, safety, and effective planning, affecting everything from what you wear and eat to the safety of outdoor activities and energy usage.
Accurate temperature measurements depend on:
- Height above the ground
- Exposure to sunlight or shade
- Placement near heat-retaining surfaces like buildings or pavement
Global temperatures in 2025 are on track to rank among the hottest years in recorded history. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports an 80% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record. There is also an 86% chance that at least one year in this period will be more than 1.5°C above the 1850–1900 average.
Recent highlights:
- March 2025 tied as the warmest March ever recorded, with global average temperatures 1.55°C (2.32°F) above the pre-industrial baseline.
- The first quarter of 2025 was the second warmest start to any year, continuing the trend of record or near-record global warmth.
- Earth's average temperature has risen by about 2°F (1.11°C) since 1850, at a rate of 0.11°F (0.06°C) per decade.
