Earth Sets New Record High Temperatures for Consecutive Months
The latest month has marked the highest recorded temperatures as the impact of global warming continues to push the boundaries of temperature norms.
Last month, according to new data from Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring service, was the planet’s hottest February on record. This marks the ninth month in a row that global records have been broken.
Copernicus found that February was 1.77 degrees Celsius warmer than the average February in pre-industrial times. Furthermore, it concluded that this past February capped off the hottest 12-month period in recorded history, with temperatures being 1.56 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Another alarming climate change milestone has been reached, with the long-term effects of human-induced global warming being exacerbated by El Niño, a natural climate variation.
Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus, noted that February adds to the ongoing trend of record-breaking temperatures in recent months. He stated that the consistent warming of the climate system is causing new temperature extremes, making these occurrences less surprising.
February has been extreme, even in the context of back-to-back months of unprecedented temperatures.
According to the analysis, global temperatures in the first half of the month were “exceptionally high.” From February 8 to 11, four consecutive days were 2 degrees warmer than those same days in pre-industrial times.
The Paris Agreement, signed by nearly every country in 2015, emphasized the importance of limiting global heating to below 2 degrees. Although scientists focus more on long-term warming, recent temporary breaches indicate a concerning acceleration of heating.
Last month, global ocean temperatures reached an unprecedented 21.06 degrees, the highest average ever recorded. This data from Copernicus surpassed the previous record of 20.98 degrees in August 2023.
Experts are surprised by the extreme heat of the oceans, particularly the North Atlantic. According to Brian McNoldy from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, the North Atlantic has been setting new daily temperature records since March 5 of last year.
McNoldy mentioned to CNN that some of these records have been broken by margins that seem almost statistically impossible.
Record ocean heat has significant global impacts, posing threats to marine life and contributing to extreme weather events such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, and powerful hurricanes.
According to climate scientist and professor Hannah Cloke from the University of Reading in the UK, the Copernicus data indicates a trend of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. This aligns with scientific predictions of the consequences of increasing greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Cloke emphasized the importance of reducing emissions immediately, stating that it is crucial for the world. If this crucial evidence is disregarded, Cloke warned that future generations, including our children, will have every right to blame us for our irresponsible actions.
CNN’s Derek Van Dam contributed to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The relentless surge in global temperatures, as evidenced by February's record-breaking heat, fills me with a profound sense of concern. The relentless march towards catastrophic climate change looms large, with each passing month surpassing the previous one in terms of unprecedented warmth. The planet's vital signs are screaming for attention, yet complacency and inaction persist.
The alarming ocean heat content, particularly in the North Atlantic, is a sobering reminder of the interconnectedness of our Earth systems. The North Atlantic's unrelenting rise in temperature has shattered records with almost statistically impossible margins, highlighting the extreme impacts of human-induced warming. The consequences of record ocean heat are far-reaching, threatening marine ecosystems and intensifying extreme weather events. It is imperative that we heed the warnings presented by the Copernicus data and take immediate action to mitigate our emissions. The well-being of future generations depends on our collective responsibility to preserve a habitable planet.
