Record Breaking Heat and Oceans on the Edge in 2024
Scorching temperatures are escalating ocean heat and acidity levels globally.
Get ready for a scorcher! In 2024, global temperatures are forecasted to top the 1.5°C mark compared to pre-industrial times for the very first time, according to the UN's weather organization [1]. This has severe consequences and the oceans are at the forefront.
The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) annual climate report shows that average global temperatures in 2024 smashed the previous record, hitting a staggering 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels [1]. As the mercury rose, extreme weather events left a trail of destruction across the globe, with the hardest hit being droughts causing food shortages, flooding and wildfires displacing a record-breaking 800,000 people since records began in 2008 [2].
Ocean warming and acidification also reached a record high, with the rate of warming accelerating [1]. Rising CO2 concentrations in the oceans are driving acidification, causing concern for marine ecosystems. The WMO suggests that glaciers and sea ice continue to melt at a rapid pace [1].
However, the Paris Agreement's long-term average increase is currently estimated to be between 1.34 and 1.41°C [1]. It's too close for comfort, but we're still just below the Paris threshold of a 1.5°C increase.
John Kennedy, scientific coordinator of the UN's climate commission, warns, "While this doesn't mean that the level mentioned in the Paris Agreement has been formally exceeded, this cannot be ruled out due to the uncertainties in the data." He went on to point out other factors like changes in the solar cycle and major volcanic eruptions as potential contributors to the global temperature increase [2].
Bracing for a Hotter Tomorrow – What Lies Ahead?
As we surge past the 1.5°C threshold, the future comes into sharp focus. It's a warmer world, with faster sea level rise, increased ocean acidification, and more frequent, intense extreme weather events [1]. With the rate of sea level rise already more than doubling since satellite records began in 1993, it's expected to exceed 5 mm per year in the near future [3].
Ocean acidification, while not fully detailed for 2024, is an ongoing process driven by the absorption of CO2 by oceans, leading to increased acidity [3]. This impacts marine ecosystems, especially those reliant on calcium carbonate, like coral reefs and shellfish.
The hotter it gets, the more severe and irreversible the climate changes, posing significant risks to ecosystems and human societies [3]. Yet, there's hope. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to these changes are crucial. This includes transitioning to clean energy sources, enhancing climate resilience in vulnerable communities, and implementing early warning systems for extreme weather events [3].
- Weather
- Climate Change
- CO2 Emissions
- Sea Level Rise
- Global Warming
[1] ntv.de[2] as/rts[3] Climate Data: Enrichment[4] Science: Enrichment[5] Nature: Enrichment
- In 2024, the weather is forecasted to break records, with global temperatures expected to surpass 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, a significant contributor to climate change and extreme weather events.
- As global warming continues, sea level rise is projected to exceed 5 mm per year in the near future, posing risks to ecosystems and human societies.
- To combat the effects of rising CO2 emissions and global warming, efforts to transition to clean energy sources, enhance climate resilience in vulnerable communities, and implement early warning systems for extreme weather events are crucial.
