In 2024, Turkey recorded its highest average temperature at 15.6 degrees Celsius, marking it the hottest year in 53 years. Similar records were noted globally, with rainfall decreasing significantly, intensifying droughts particularly in agricultural areas. This escalating climate crisis emphasizes the urgent need for global climate action to mitigate future risks.
In 2024, Turkey recorded its highest average temperature, reaching 15.6 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record set in 2010 by 0.1 degrees Celsius. This year marks a significant climatic shift as it is the hottest year noted in the last 53 years of meteorological documentation in Turkey. Apart from Turkey, numerous countries including China, Brazil, Japan, and the United States also documented their warmest years in 2024, while India experienced unprecedented high temperatures.
The Turkish weather agency noted that since 2007, average temperatures have consistently been above normal, with the notable exception of 2011. Additionally, rainfall in the preceding year was reported to be 6.3 percent lower than the average, most severely affecting the Aegean coast, which experienced a 22.4 percent decrease. This prolonged drought, alongside the excessive extraction of groundwater, has catalyzed the emergence of sinkholes in Konya, Turkey’s primary agricultural region.
Although the Turkish weather agency did not explicitly mention climate change, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization highlighted 2024 as the hottest global year on record, emphasizing the necessity for nations to reconsider their environmental policies. Furthermore, Europe’s Copernicus climate monitor recently observed that average global temperatures have transcended a crucial 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold for the first time in two years.
These alarming trends reflect an urgent need for comprehensive climate action to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on Turkey and the world.
The rising temperatures experienced globally are increasingly attributed to climate change, a phenomenon characterized by long-term alterations in temperature and typical weather patterns. Over the past few decades, numerous regions have reported unprecedented heat spikes, with socioeconomic and environmental repercussions. The annual monitoring of temperatures has revealed a troubling trend, where each year since 2007, Turkey has experienced warmer-than-normal conditions, except for one year. This ongoing climatic shift indicates a pressing challenge that requires worldwide attention and remedial strategies to sustain the planet’s ecological balance.
In summary, 2024 stands as Turkey’s warmest year on record, with significant implications for the environment and agriculture. The alarming rise in temperatures, combined with a marked decrease in rainfall, has exacerbated drought conditions, leading to serious ecological ramifications, such as the formation of sinkholes. These developments underscore the critical need for global cooperation in addressing climate change to avert future climatic crises. The observations made by global organizations compel nations to reconsider their climate strategies and implement effective solutions to address these pressing challenges.
Original Source: www.barrons.com
