February of 2024 marked a historic high in global temperatures, continuing a nine-month streak of unprecedented warmth, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This period has not only seen the highest February sea surface temperatures ever recorded but also the highest for any month to date.
The average global surface air temperature for February 2024 soared to 13.54 degrees Celsius, which is 1.77 degrees above the preindustrial average of February from the years 1850 to 1900. This pattern of elevated temperatures began in February 2023, with the past year witnessing monthly temperatures that were consistently 1.52 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial benchmarks—a phenomenon never before seen over a 12-month span. From March 1, 2023, through the end of February 2024, the global temperature further escalated, averaging 1.56 degrees above the 19th-century norm.
Scientists attribute the bulk of this temperature increase to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, although the natural El Nino phenomenon, which warms the central Pacific Ocean and alters global weather patterns, has also played a significant role.
Carlo Buentempo, the Director of C3, emphasizes the urgency of these findings, stating that the continued rise in global temperatures and the setting of new records are inevitable consequences of the ongoing warming of the climate system. He warns that unless there is a stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, the world will continue to witness new temperature records and their associated impacts.
The revelation comes at a time when the world’s oceans, too, are experiencing record warmth. February 2024’s average sea surface temperature reached a new high of 21.06 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in August 2023. This increase in ocean temperatures threatens marine life, particularly corals, which are susceptible to bleaching and death under such conditions. The current situation could potentially lead to the worst global mass coral bleaching event in history, with dire consequences for marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Experts like Richard Allan, a climate scientist from the University of Reading, highlight the widespread nature of the temperature increase, noting that regions far from the El Nino’s central activity, such as the tropical Atlantic and Indian Ocean, are also seeing record sea surface temperatures. This indicates the significant role of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in driving the current climate trends.
