Scientists worldwide forecast a record-breaking temperature increase in 2024 due to the El Niño phenomenon, highlighting severe weather risks and the urgency of addressing the escalating climate crisis.
In 2024, scientists from around the world are highlighting an alarming surge in global heating, with predictions of record-breaking temperatures across many regions including the Amazon, Alaska, coastal areas of India, South China, the Philippines, and the Caribbean. This global temperature increase is attributed to the El Niño climate event, a natural phenomenon characterized by the release of heat from the western Pacific Ocean. According to forecasts, there is a 90% chance of experiencing the hottest year on record, surpassing previous records. Dr. Ning Jiang of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences has emphasized the acute climate crisis coastal areas are facing, with increased risks of intense heatwaves and tropical cyclones, exacerbated by rising sea levels.
In addition to the direct effects of El Niño, other consequences such as elevated wildfire risks in the Amazon, as well as accelerated glacier melting, permafrost thawing, and coastal erosion in Alaska, are anticipated. Prof. Adam Scaife of the Met Office and the University of Exeter underlined the significance of understanding El Niño’s role in the escalation of global temperatures.
Parallel to these projections, a recent study has examined the extreme climate events of 2023, which included an unprecedented rise in the North Atlantic Ocean’s temperatures and alarmingly low levels of Antarctic sea ice. These events were notably more severe than expected from current global warming levels, resembling conditions anticipated under a scenario of 3°C of warming above pre-industrial levels, despite current warming standing at approximately 1.2°C. This anomaly has raised concerns among scientists, including the study’s lead author, about the potential preview these conditions offer of future climate scenarios.
Experts, including climate scientist Till Kuhlbrodt, are calling attention to the accelerated pace of warming and its increasingly visible impacts, stressing the importance of ongoing research into the extreme weather events’ underlying causes and implications for future climate scenarios. The unusual climate patterns observed in 2023 and predicted for 2024 point towards a greater need for global awareness and understanding of the complex interactions driving climate change.
