Unprecedented Heat: Summer 2024 Sets New Global Temperature Records
The latest data indicates that the summer of 2024 has etched its name into history as the hottest ever recorded globally. This revelation comes from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, highlighting the continuing trend of rising temperatures across the globe.
In Europe, the summer was not just ordinary; it was extraordinary, with temperatures soaring to 1.54C above the long-term average of 1991-2020. This surpassed the previous record set in 2022, signaling a troubling trend of escalating heat levels. Despite this, the United Kingdom experienced its coolest summer since 2015, presenting a stark contrast to the blistering heat witnessed across the majority of the continent.
On a global scale, the year has seen an average temperature increase of 0.7C above the 1991-2020 average, positioning 2024 as the prime candidate for the warmest year on record. This follows closely on the heels of the previous year, which also saw record-breaking average temperatures.
The period from August marked the 13th month out of a 14-month streak where global temperatures exceeded the 1.5C threshold above pre-industrial levels, underlining the persistent and escalating challenge of global warming. The string of heatwaves and extreme weather events that have swept across the world is direct testimony to the warming atmosphere.
Samantha Burgess from Copernicus highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that the temperature extremes witnessed this summer and their intensity are a clear sign of what is to come if global temperatures continue to rise.
Breaking temperature records became the norm over the summer, with Austria experiencing its warmest season on record. Spain reported its hottest August ever, Finland tied with its warmest summer, and Switzerland had its second warmest. However, cooler temperatures were recorded in places like the Republic of Ireland, the UK, western Portugal, Iceland, and southern Norway, providing slight reprieve from the continental heatwave.
The underlying cause of the planet’s warming trajectory can largely be attributed to human activities. Yet, the natural phenomenon of El Niño has played a significant role in exacerbating the temperature rise from 2023 into 2024. El Niño, characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific, spanned from June 2023 through May 2024. This period saw increased sea surface temperatures, which in turn, added more warmth to the atmosphere.
Although El Niño has concluded, its effects are expected to linger and influence the overall temperature trends for 2024. Experts from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology are predicting the onset of La Niña in the coming months, which typically brings cooler temperatures with its phase. However, whether this will significantly offset the current trend of rising global temperatures remains to be seen.
As the globe grapples with the realities of climate change, the record-breaking temperatures of summer 2024 serve as a poignant reminder of the urgency for collective action to mitigate the impacts and curtail further warming.
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