July 2015 was Earth’s hottest month on record

This past July will go down as Earth’s hottest month since records began in 1880, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday.

NOAA’s latest data showed that the average global temperature in July was recorded at 61.86 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing a previous high mark set in July 1998 by 0.14 degrees.

NOAA’s data builds on the same conclusion that NASA and the Japan Meteorological Agency reported days ago.

With El Niño continuing to warm ocean waters, 2015 is on track to be the hottest year on record. Previously, 2014 held that title, NOAA climate scientist Jack Crouch told the Associated Press.

The last decade has seen nine of the 10 hottest months on record, and the first seven months of 2015 made up the warmest January-July period on record.

“Five months this year, including the past three, have been record warm for their respective months,” NOAA’s report said. Not to mention, last January was the second warmest January on record, and last April was the third warmest.

Crouch told the AP these records confirm that the Earth is warming.