Warmest February since measurements began

The data used by Copernicus goes back to 1950, but earlier data is also available. This is the ninth month in a row that has been the warmest compared to the respective months of the previous year. “As remarkable as this may seem, it is not really surprising, as the continued warming of the climate system will inevitably lead to new extreme temperatures,” says director Carlo Buontempo.

The climate responds to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As long as it is not possible to stabilize them, “we will inevitably be confronted with new global temperature records and their consequences.”

The limit of 1.5 degrees was exceeded for the first time
Copernicus had already announced in January that for the first time, global warming over a twelve-month period (February 2023 to January 2024) averages more than 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era. However, this does not mean that the Paris target of 1.5 degrees has not been achieved, as longer-term average values ​​are taken into account.

Data from billions of measurements
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.