&gt; Probability theory tells me that a single number like this is meaningless<p>That is true. But when considering that the ten warmest years since 1880 all have occurred since 1998[1] it is no longer a single number.<p>I&#x27;m guessing after 2015 that the eleven warmest years will have occurred after 1998.<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;climate.nasa.gov&#x2F;blog&#x2F;2224" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;climate.nasa.gov&#x2F;blog&#x2F;2224</a>