The European climate service Copernicus reports that November 2024 was the second-warmest November on record, indicating that 2024 may end as the hottest year globally. Global temperatures reached 14.10 degrees Celsius (57.38 degrees Fahrenheit), emphasizing urgency for climate action due to the exacerbating effects of climate change.
The latest report from the European climate service Copernicus indicates that November 2024 was recorded as the second-warmest November ever, surpassed only by November 2023. This unprecedented warmth significantly suggests that 2024 is poised to become the hottest year on record. The global average temperature for November reached 14.10 degrees Celsius (57.38 degrees Fahrenheit), marking a concerning trend of increasing temperatures coinciding with human-induced climate change and disappearing reflective sea ice.
Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, emphasized that November 2024 set records significantly higher than previous November averages, underscoring a pressing crisis. The implications are severe, as the year may conclude with an average temperature exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, an alarming milestone in the context of the Paris Agreement’s aspirations to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius or below.
Experts attribute this rise in temperatures partly to extreme heatwaves and the degradation of reflective ice and snow in the Arctic and Antarctic, which exacerbate the Earth’s warming. Formerly, warm ocean currents associated with El Nino contributed intensely to global heat, but this year has seen the absence of the cooling influence of La Nina, leaving scientists puzzled by the sustained high temperatures. Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan, has articulated concerns regarding this trend of relentless warming as being unprecedented and alarming.
Climate change, primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has resulted in increasing global temperatures, evidenced by disrupted weather patterns and extreme weather events. The effects of El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon characterized by warming of ocean waters in the central Pacific, typically impact annual temperatures. However, the recent lack of subsequent cooling effects, such as those usually brought on by La Nina, has caused sustained high global temperatures. Copernicus’ analysis showcases that the data for November aligns with broader trends indicating a climate on the brink, raising urgent calls for enhanced global climate actions to combat these changes.
In summary, the significant warmth recorded in November 2024 not only signifies that the planet is experiencing its second-warmest November ever but also highlights an urgent climate crisis. The expected culmination of 2024 as the hottest year recorded reinforces the necessity for immediate and robust climate action. As climate scientists warn, the accelerating pace of warming poses severe risks to both ecosystems and human communities alike, amplifying calls for adherence to international climate agreements to mitigate impending disasters.
Original Source: apnews.com
