September 2024 was identified as the second-warmest September globally, according to the EU climate monitor Copernicus. This record contributes to expectations that 2024 will be the hottest year ever recorded, following increasing global temperatures due to climate change, which have led to extreme weather events worldwide, including severe rainfall and storms. Scientists warn that soaring greenhouse gas emissions are jeopardizing efforts to limit global warming.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, September 2024 was recorded as the second-warmest September globally, contributing to a trend that suggests 2024 is poised to become the hottest year on record. This assessment was published by the EU climate monitor on Tuesday, which utilized extensive data from satellites, ships, and weather stations in its analysis. The month experienced significant weather events, including severe rainfall and destructive storms, which are increasingly becoming more frequent and intense due to rising global temperatures driven by climate change. In fact, last month’s average global temperature was only surpassed by September 2023. Copernicus noted that while 2023 was previously the hottest year documented, the current trend indicates that 2024 may soon shatter this record. The phenomenon of global warming not only correlates with increasing temperatures but also with the consequential effects of heat sequestered in the atmosphere and oceans. Elevated air temperatures enable the atmosphere to retain more water vapor, leading to greater evaporation from warmer seas. These changes have significant implications for patterns of rainfall, resulting in more intense and concentrated downpours. For instance, Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, noted, “The extreme rainfall events of this month, something we are observing more and more often, have been made worse by a warmer atmosphere.” The month was marked by extreme weather incidents, including Hurricane Helene impacting the southeastern United States, Typhoon Krathon affecting Taiwan, and Storm Boris causing floods across central Europe. Additionally, Typhoons Yagi and Bebinca wreaked havoc in various Asian regions, while devastating floods were reported across Nepal, Japan, and parts of Africa. Copernicus also highlighted that from January through September 2024, new temperature records have been established, suggesting that 2024 is likely to become the warmest year on record. Notably, fourteen of the past fifteen months have registered average temperatures at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above those experienced during the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). While this temperature spike does not violate the Paris climate agreement—aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius—scientists caution that the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is becoming increasingly unachievable given the current trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, predominantly from fossil fuel combustion. Historical climate records dating back to 1940, supplemented by paleoclimate proxies such as ice cores and tree rings, suggest that the current climate conditions may represent the warmest period on Earth in the last 100,000 years, harkening back to the onset of the last Ice Age.
The report issued by the Copernicus Climate Change Service highlights the increasing urgency of addressing climate change, emphasizing that extreme weather events are becoming more prevalent due to rising global temperatures. As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and with current trends indicating that 2024 will surpass previous temperature records, the discussions surrounding climate policy and international agreements, notably the Paris Agreement, are becoming increasingly critical. This context underscores the need for global cooperation and immediate action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on weather patterns and ecosystems.
In summary, the announcement by the Copernicus Climate Change Service regarding September 2024 being marked as the second-warmest on record underlines the alarming trend of rising global temperatures and their subsequent effects on weather patterns. With 2024 poised to break previous heat records and the risk of severe weather intensifying due to climate change, it is imperative for global leaders to enhance efforts towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adhering to international climate agreements to avert further environmental degradation.
Original Source: phys.org
