As global temperatures continue to climb, November has marked a significant milestone as the second warmest on record, surpassed only by last year, according to data from the European climate service Copernicus. The persistent warming trend suggests that 2024 could conclude as the hottest year ever recorded.
Climate change driven by human activities, along with the influence of El Nino, contributed to last year’s record-breaking temperatures. This year’s summer set new highs, with places like Phoenix enduring 113 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius).
In November, the global temperature averaged 14.10C (57.38F), while last year’s average was 14.98C (59F). This year, through November, the global temperature is 0.14C (32F) higher than the same period last year.
Noted climate scientist Jennifer Francis, from the Woodwell Climate Research Center, highlighted that November’s temperatures “beat out previous Novembers by a large margin.”
The report indicates that this year might be the first where average temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The 2015 Paris Agreement sets a target to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally below 1.5, to mitigate severe climate change impacts.
According to Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess, this development “does not mean that the Paris Agreement has been breached, but it does mean ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever.”
Francis added that the increasing temperatures are “terrible news for people and ecosystems.” She emphasized the rapid pace of warming, which impedes the adaptive capacity of plants and animals, potentially leading to more extinctions and disrupted food webs, and highlighted the vulnerabilities of agriculture and coastal communities.
Experts suggest that heat waves over the oceans and the reduction of reflective sea ice and snow cover are likely contributors to this year’s temperature rise. Copernicus reported that Antarctic sea ice in November was 10% below average, marking a new record.
Oceans, which absorb approximately 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases, play a critical role by releasing heat and water vapor back into the atmosphere.
El Nino, a natural phenomenon causing temporary warming in parts of the central Pacific, partly caused last year’s record warmth. However, the anticipated cooling effect of La Nina did not occur, leaving scientists puzzled about the sustained high temperatures.
Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan, explained that typically, El Nino releases heat into the atmosphere, followed by a cooling phase which did not happen this time, potentially accelerating global warming. He noted the significant “jump” in temperatures as particularly alarming.
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