February 2024 was the hottest month on record

February 2024 marked the hottest on record for the Earth, according to researchers, making it the ninth consecutive month to break previous temperature records. Through an analysis of data collected from satellites, weather stations, aircraft, and ships, it was determined that February 2024 was 0.12 degrees Celsius (0.22 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous record set in 2016. Additionally, it surpassed the pre-industrial average by 1.77 Celsius (3.19 Fahrenheit).

The findings highlight the rapid warming of the Earth

The global impacts observed in February included increased rainfall causing damage in Europe and the east and west coasts of North America, as well as drier-than-average conditions leading to droughts and wildfires in parts of Africa, Central Asia, South America, and Australia. These findings, presented by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, highlight the ongoing and rapid warming of the planet.

However, the researchers monitoring this deviation were not surprised by the findings. They underlined that February joins the long streak of records of the last few months. As remarkable as this might appear, it is not really surprising as the continuous warming of the climate system inevitably leads to new temperature extremes.

The researchers are attributing the rising temperatures to the emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from human activities. The climate responds to the actual concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, so unless we manage to stabilize those, we will inevitably face new global temperature records and their consequences.

The global average temperature reached an unprecedented level

Copernicus also revealed that the global average temperature over the past twelve months reached an unprecedented level, surpassing the average for the 1850-1900 period by 1.56 degrees Celsius (2.8 Fahrenheit). This constitutes a temporary breach of the nominal 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) limit established by the 2015 Paris Agreement as the recommended safe upper limit for global temperature rise above pre-industrial levels.

The researchers involve in the study expressed concern, stating that our planet is heating up at a dangerous pace. As people continue to burn oil, gas, and coal, sthe climate continues to warm, so we should not be surprised that another record is broken.

Rapid and massive cuts in greenhouse gases are needed

Experts also pointed out that the El Niño climate fluctuation was contributing to the elevated global temperatures in 2024. However, they highlighted that the current records being broken were occurring in regions far from the typical areas associated with the El Niño phenomenon.

Sea surface temperatures are at record levels over regions far away from the center of El Niño action, such as the tropical Atlantic and Indian Ocean. The widespread substantial warmth of the sea surface is consistent with a combination of ocean fluctuations on top of a continued powerful heating effect from rising greenhouse gas concentrations and other smaller factors.

To halt further rises in carbon dioxide and limit warming of climate and the increased severity of extreme weather events, rapid and massive cuts in greenhouse gases across all sectors of society are essential, experts said.