NIWA presents a report on the NZ climate

RNZ, our national broadcaster is supposed to be on the forefront of things and yet not a peep from them.

They really are climate change deniers in their softpeddling the whole thing and shilling for the “new economy”.

I wouldn’t mind betting the NZ Herald are silent too.

I have to acknowledge Fairfax. It may not be the entire story but THEY ARE COVERING IT.

The Dompost!!!

New Zealand had its hottest summer on record in 2018

Stuff,

8 January, 2019

The national average temperature for New Zealand in 2018 made it the second warmest year on record, NIWA has announced.

Last year's average temperature was equal to that of 1998 and second only to 2016, which still holds the record for the highest temperature. 

That meant four of the past six years were among New Zealand's warmest.

LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFFAucklanders lapped up the summer sun in Mission Bay during the Christmas break.

January kicked off the year with the hottest ever month, which later contributed to the hottest summer.

READ MORE:
* 2018 warmest year on record for New Zealand, says climate scientist
* ​It was officially New Zealand's hottest summer on record
* Extreme January: Our most sweltering month on record​

Principal scientist Chris Brandolino gave the details at the Annual Climate Summary announcement in Auckland on Tuesday.

The year 2018 was part of an alarming warmer trend, he said.

"January was [the] warmest month, of any year on record," he said.

"Six months saw temperature above average, with no months [with] below average temperatures."

'Marine heatwave" contributed to NZ's record-breaking temperatures of 2018 - NIWA

NIWA

Sea surface temperatures around NZ endured a "marine heatwave" in the spring and summer of 2017-18.

The record warmth can be attributed to three factors: Rising ocean temperature, air flow and an increase in greenhouse gases.

"A changing climate is creating a long-term tail wind for higher temperatures," Brandolino said.

A "marine heatwave" was used to describe the sea surface temperatures, which were above average beginning in November 2017 and persisting until February 2018

NIWA

Climate extremes throughout New Zealand for 2018.

Ocean temperatures affect air temperature, which was a big contributor to the warm year also.

Rainfall was also above normal levels across much of the east and upper South Island, as well as in parts of Wellington, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty, northern Waikato and Auckland.

The sunniest place in New Zealand, for the second time was the wider Nelson region.

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ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

NIWA principal scientist Chris Brandolino says January in 2018 was the warmest month on

record.

A total of 2555 hours of sunshine during 2018 crowned it the "sunshine king", Brandolino said.