After the World Weather Organization recently officially confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year since industrialization, the young year 2024 also started with a temperature record: global temperatures in January 2024 were higher than ever before this month since records began.
The record was published by Copernicus, the European Union’s climate change agency. With an average of 13.14 degrees Celsius, the air temperature on the Earth’s surface was 0.7 degrees higher than the average over the reference period from 1991 to 2020 and 0.12 degrees higher than the highest January temperature so far in 2020.
“2024 is off to a record month – not only is it the warmest January on record, but we have just experienced a 12-month period that is more than 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial reference period,” said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of Copernicus. Rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are the only way to halt rising global temperatures, she warned.
Also in the period between 1850 and 1900, the average temperature for January 2024 was 1.66 degrees higher than the estimated average temperature for this month. According to the information, the global average temperature over the past twelve months from February 2023 to January 2024 was also as high as ever before. It was 0.64 degrees higher than the reference period from 1991 to 2020.
Significantly colder in the north, but warmer in the south
A mixed picture emerged in Europe. While the Scandinavian countries were significantly cooler than the average over the reference period, it was significantly warmer in the south of the continent. Temperatures were also above average in eastern Canada, northwest Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, while temperatures were colder than average in western Canada, the central United States and most of Siberia.
The El Niño weather phenomenon is beginning to weaken in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, but air temperatures over the sea remain at unusually high levels, the Copernicus statement continues. The recurring weather phenomenon warms the Pacific Ocean every few years.
The European Union’s climate change agency, Copernicus, regularly publishes data on surface temperatures, sea ice cover and precipitation. The findings are based on computer-generated analyzes that incorporate billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world. The data used by Copernicus goes back to 1950, but earlier data is also available.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
