The latest report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals that March has become the hottest on record globally, marking the 10th consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures.
This unprecedented trend, fueled by a combination of human-induced climate change and the El Niño climate pattern, has led to soaring temperatures in both the atmosphere and the oceans.
The Copernicus report indicates that the Earth’s average temperature over the past 12 months has surged to a staggering 1.58 degrees Celsius (2.84 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. Particularly concerning is the heightened temperature of the Atlantic Ocean, which experts warn could result in an exceptionally intense hurricane season.
Gillian Galford, lead of the Vermont Climate Assessment and a professor at the University of Vermont, emphasized the significance of this warming trend, stating, “It should be eye-catching — we are going toward uncharted territory.”
The warmer Atlantic waters not only increase the likelihood of larger storms and intensified hurricane activity but also pose a threat of increased precipitation and flooding in regions like Vermont. Last summer’s intense flooding serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences.
March 2024 saw an average surface air temperature of 14.14 degrees Celsius (57.45 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record set in March 2016 by 0.1 degrees Celsius (0.18 degrees Fahrenheit). Additionally, Copernicus reported that Antarctic sea ice extent was 20 percent below average following the planet’s warmest winter.
While experts acknowledge that the 10-month streak of record temperatures reflects a broader warming trend, they caution against assuming that every month will continue to break records indefinitely. Nevertheless, Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, predicts that historic highs are likely to persist in the coming months.
Burgess warned, “Seasonal forecasts suggest spring and summer are likely to be warmer than average.” She underscored the urgent need for drastic reductions in emissions, stating, “The reality is unless we change our emissions dramatically, we’ll look back at 2023 and consider it a cool year, 10 to 20 years in the future.”
This report follows closely on the heels of the revelation that Earth’s 12-month average temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels for the first time. Scientists express concerns about the potential for catastrophic consequences, such as the collapse of critical ocean circulations, if temperatures remain near or above this threshold for prolonged periods.
In the Paris climate agreement of 2016, nations worldwide committed to limiting the increase in global average temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Additionally, efforts were pledged to strive for multiyear averages below 1.5 degrees Celsius, with the aim of preserving coral reefs and mitigating the impact of deadly heat waves.
