Satellite images confirm global warming is heating the planet by creating 'skin' maps from NASA's data Heat map of Earth's surface 'skin' by satellite confirms rising temperatures These recordings from 2003-2017 confirm land based measurement data Together they show that the hottest year on Earth in recorded history was 2016 By Yuan Ren For Mailonline Published: 09:17 BST, 17 April 2019 | Updated: 09:20 BST, 17 April 2019 Viewcomments Satellite measurements of the Earth's surface temperature have confirmed that global warming is heating up the planet. The infrared system measures heat radiating from the earth and was used to record temperatures from 2003 to 2017. The surface skin temperature map , which is derived solely from the satellite data, showed a warming pattern consistent with other measurements taken on land. A combination of both data sets and all the existing research now offers almost irrefutable proof of global warming, researchers claim. Scroll down for video The Earth's rising temperature has been visualised via satellite 'skin' surface maps that confirm global warming is heating up the planet. The system which measures the heat energy radiating from the earth via infrared, was used to record temperatures from 2003 to 2017 (file photo) The results were compared to station-based land analyses of surface air temperature, mainly those from the American space agency NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre. The authors of the paper in which the results are shown wrote in the report: 'The satellite-based surface temperatures can serve as an important validation of surface-based estimates and help to improve surface-based data sets in a way that can be extended back many decades to further scientific research.' Dr Joel Susskind, from the American space agency Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre, and author of the paper, said: 'Both data sets demonstrate the Earth's surface has been warming globally over this period, and that 2016, 2017, and 2015 have been the warmest years in the instrumental record, in that order.' The skin map, which is derived solely from the satellite data showed a warming pattern consistent with other measurements (pictured) taken on land stations which include those taken by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre The satellite system, called Airs (Atmospheric Infra-Red Sounder), records temperature at the surface of the ocean, land and snow-covered regions. Its findings were compared with station-based data from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Surface Temperature Analysis (Gistemp). Co-author Dr Gavin Schmidt, also from the Goddard Institute, said: 'Interestingly, our findings revealed that the surface-based data sets may be underestimating the temperature changes in the Arctic. 'This means the warming taking place at the poles may be happening more quickly than previously thought.' The full report of the study is published in the the journal Environmental Research Letters. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility