January 2025 was the warmest January on record, surpassing the previous high from January 2024, amid La Nina’s cooling influence. Global temperatures have remained above the 1.5-degree Celsius mark for most of the last two years. The Copernicus agency reported significant increases in average temperatures and sea surface temperatures while Arctic sea ice reached record lows. Concerns remain about long-term compliance with climate agreements as temperatures continue to rise.
According to the European climate agency, January 2025 was the warmest recorded January globally, despite the presence of La Nina, a climate pattern typically associated with cooler temperatures. This trend follows the hottest year on record, 2024, which marked the first instance of global average temperatures surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the average temperature for January 2025 was 13.23 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous high from January 2024 by 0.09 degrees and surpassing the 1991-2020 average by 0.79 degrees. Notably, January’s temperatures were 1.75 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial averages. For 18 out of the last 19 months, global temperatures have remained above this threshold.
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S, noted the surprising nature of January 2025’s temperatures, emphasizing the continuation of record highs despite La Nina’s cooling influence. La Nina typically cools the global climate but also triggers weather anomalies worldwide, including intensified monsoons in India and drought conditions in parts of Africa and South America.
Furthermore, analysts revealed that the average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for January were notably high, at 20.78 degrees Celsius, marking it as the second warmest January recorded. While indicators of La Nina are evident in the central Pacific, temperatures in the eastern Pacific continue to remain elevated, suggesting a potential stagnation in the La Nina phenomenon.
In terms of Arctic conditions, sea ice extent in January reached a record low, decreasing 6 percent below the average, nearly matching the lowest extent previously observed in January 2018. The World Meteorological Organization identified 2024 as the warmest year recorded, with global mean temperatures being 1.55 degrees Celsius above the baseline from 1850 to 1900, prior to substantial human-induced climate impacts.
However, it is crucial to note that a lasting breach of the 1.5-degree threshold, as per the Paris Agreement, pertains to long-term warming indicated over a period of 20 to 30 years, thus highlighting the significance of sustained temperature observations.
Global warming has increasingly become a pressing issue, with climate patterns like La Nina being closely monitored for their effects on temperature and weather conditions. La Nina typically leads to cooler temperatures globally, affecting weather patterns across various regions. However, recent reports have indicated unsettling trends of rising temperature records, even amid such cooling phenomena, raising concerns among climate scientists and policymakers. The Paris Agreement emphasizes the importance of limiting global temperature increases to avoid severe consequences of climate change. With temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels, it is essential to address the implications of these changes on ecosystems, human health, and global weather stability. Understanding these patterns is vital for planning and implementing effective climate policies.
In conclusion, January 2025 set a new record as the warmest January despite La Nina’s cooling effects, which emphasizes the continuing trend of rising global temperatures. With persistent readings exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels, it is evident that urgent action is needed to address climate change. The data highlight a concerning trajectory that necessitates comprehensive global efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and adhere to commitments established under the Paris Agreement.
Original Source: www.newsdrum.in
