CREDIT: Wiki Commons/Thomas Schoch

Australia's newly rebadged Climate Council is naming this year as the hottest calendar year documented since record keeping began. 2013 is set to have the highest temperatures, passing by far 2005's warm climate. The elevated temperature is cause for concern as local governments are concerned with spontaneous bush fires may erupt should this budding heat wave continue. This is one hot streak that the public should be talking about.

Climate Scientist, Will Steffen, stated that there is a three degree increase in the average heat. Though three degrees don't seem like much, when taken against the long-term temperature median, it is enough to cause some brow furrowing in the council. The remarkably warm weather was also observed as non-specific to any part of the country, but rather spread out to five out of seven of the Australian states.

"This September was the hottest September on record following a year that has already broken records for the hottest day, the hottest January and the hottest summer in recorded history," said Professor Steffen in a story by the Sydney Morning Herald. He also makes a case that while Australia suffers heat waves from time to time, the sheer number of records being broken by the present climate is alarming. "Although Australia has always had heat waves, hot days and bushfires, climate change is increasing the risk of more frequent and longer heat waves and more extreme hot days, as well as exacerbating bushfire conditions."

In a past study made by NASA on a global scale, the 10 hottest calendar years all occurred in the last 15 years. A fact that supports what the Climate Council is trying to say. "It is important that the community understands the link between heat extremes and climate change," Professor Steffen said. As such, the council is trying to raise awareness regarding this issue. Now a non-profit organization, the former Climate Commission takes most of its funding from public donations. Though no longer extensively supported by the government, they remain positive. "The Australian community has donated almost $1 million in our first week alone - demonstrating that there is enormous public concern and thirst for independent, expert information about our climate."