Planet Earth has marked yet another consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures. The latest data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed last month as the hottest February on record globally.
The record heat comes as several countries battle extreme events, including spring- and summer-like temperatures, extreme rain and flooding, massive snowfall and wildfires of unprecedented intensity – majorly a byproduct of climate change.
Copernicus highlighted “exceptionally high” temperatures in both the air and sea. The average global surface air temperature in February reached 13.54 degrees Celsius, 1.77 degrees above the pre-industrial average for the month.
Exceptional temperatures in both air and oceans
The record temperatures in February have led it to become the ninth consecutive month where each month was the warmest on record globally. In fact, CCCS in January confirmed 2023 as the hottest year ever, representing the true scale of the climate crisis.
Oceans – known to absorb 90% of Earth’s heat – also recorded high temperatures. The average global sea surface temperature for February was 21.06 degrees Celsius, which Copernicus said is “the highest for any month in the dataset.”
Such record-breaking ocean temperatures only add to the cycle of global heating, leading to melting sea ice – incredibly important in reflecting the sun’s rays to help maintain cooler temperatures. In addition, warmer temperatures also cause rampant coral bleaching.
Hottest February comes amid an ongoing El Nino
Scientists have long raised concerns over several climate thresholds that put the planet at additional risk of extreme natural events that threaten people across the globe, especially those living along coasts and on islands.
These thresholds include recording multiple years of global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, or an even dangerous 2 degrees. Last January marked the first time that global average temperatures reached the 1.5-degree limit over a 12-month period.
February breaching the threshold does not mean the planet in its entirety has surpassed the threshold, but it does indicate that human activities are certainly on the path of doing so. The recent records come amid an ongoing El Nino event.
The natural phenomenon occurs every 2 to 7 years. It is currently gradually weakening but its impact is expected to be felt in the global climate in the coming months. In order to prevent temperatures from surpassing limits, it is imperative to manage concentrations of emissions.
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