Researchers from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service have raised alarms about the potential for 2024 to become the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023. This alarming trend is part of a series of successive years that have all been among the hottest since 2014. The global temperature anomaly from January to July 2024 has already reached 0.70 degrees Celsius above the average for the period from 1991 to 2020. In order for 2024 not to exceed 2023's temperatures, a significant drop of at least 0.23°C would be necessary, a scenario that has rarely occurred in historical climate data.
Despite July 2024 being the second warmest July recorded, with an average surface air temperature of 16.91 degrees Celsius, it still fell short of the previous record set in July 2023. Interestingly, this marks the end of a remarkable 13-month streak where every month set new temperature records. Previous similar streaks were noted during the strong El Niño events of 2015 and 2016, indicating a worrying correlation between climate change and natural climate variability.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service employs various instruments to measure global temperatures, including satellites operated by NASA and the European Space Agency. These satellites monitor key atmospheric parameters, providing a comprehensive view of temperature changes across both land and sea, which is essential for understanding the Earth's climate.
While July 2024 was not the hottest month overall, it witnessed the hottest two days on record, with daily global temperatures peaking at 17.16 and 17.15 degrees Celsius on July 22 and 23. This data illustrates a concerning trend, as the average global temperature for the past 12 months has been 0.76 degrees Celsius higher than the average for 1991-2020, and 1.64 degrees Celsius above the reference period from 1850 to 1900.
- The Global Average Temperature is a crucial metric that reflects the Earth's average surface temperature. It is calculated using a combination of satellite data and readings from thousands of meteorological stations worldwide. This comprehensive approach allows for accurate tracking of **climate patterns** and trends, which are essential for future climate forecasting and understanding the impacts of global warming. The implications of rising temperatures are profound, affecting ecosystems, weather patterns, and sea levels. As the planet continues to warm, the urgency for **climate action** becomes increasingly critical to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the environment.
