All other aspects and characteristics of science can be understood directly when we understand that observation is the ultimate and final judge of the truth of an idea.
Global climate trend since Dec. 1 1978: +0.14 C per decade (New Reference Base, 1991-2020)
Northern Hemisphere: +0.14 C (+0.25 °F) above seasonal average Southern Hemisphere: +0.03 C (+0.05 °F) above seasonal average Tropics: +0.06 C (+0.11 °F) above seasonal average
Northern Hemisphere: +0.05 C (+0.09 °F) above seasonal average Southern Hemisphere: -0.15 C (-0.27 °F) below seasonal average Tropics: -0.28 C (-0.50 °F) below seasonal average
Notes on data released June 2, 2021 (v6.0, with new reference base) With the modest warming seen in May, we are likely on the way out of the current La Niña cycle whose cool tropical Pacific waters helped to produce lower atmospheric temperatures since late last year. But since mid-February, the bulk sea water temperatures in the tropics have been climbing and are now above average, likely indicating the atmosphere will see more above normal temperatures, at least for the next few months. The global departure from average of +0.08 °C (+0.14 °F) represents a slight warming from April with the area of greatest monthly increase in the tropics (-0.28 to +0.08 °C).