Record Warmth: January 2025 is the Hottest on Record Despite La Nina

January 2025 was the warmest January on record despite La Nina’s cooling effects. The average global temperature of 13.23 degrees Celsius exceeded last year’s record. The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported temperatures to be 1.75 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, continuing a worrying trend of warming even amidst cooling phenomena.

January 2025 was recorded as the warmest January ever, according to the European climate agency, despite the onset of La Nina, a climate phenomenon typically associated with cooler global temperatures. This record follows the warmest year in 2024, during which global average temperatures surpassed pre-industrial levels by 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported an average temperature of 13.23 degrees Celsius in January 2025, which exceeded January 2024’s record by 0.09 degrees Celsius and was 0.79 degrees higher than the average from 1991 to 2020. Moreover, the average temperature this January was 1.75 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with global temperatures remaining above the critical 1.5-degree threshold for 18 of the past 19 months.

Samantha Burgess, the Deputy Director of C3S, noted, “January 2025 is another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Nina conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures.” La Nina typically results in cooler surface waters in the central Pacific, influencing weather patterns worldwide.

The last year, from February 2024 to January 2025, was recorded as being 1.61 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times. Notably, sea surface temperatures in January averaged 20.78 degrees Celsius, the second-highest on record. While signs of La Nina are present, eastern Pacific ocean temperatures remain unusually high, suggesting a potential slowing in the onset of La Nina conditions.

In January, Arctic sea ice extent fell to its lowest level for the month, down 6 percent from the average, nearing the record low set in January 2018. The World Meteorological Organization previously announced that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with average global temperatures rising 1.55 degrees Celsius over the 1850-1900 baseline period, prior to significant human impact on the climate.

The report highlights the significant increase in global temperatures against the backdrop of La Nina, a climatic event typically expected to temporarily lower global temperatures. This context is crucial in understanding the persistent rise in average global temperatures and the broader implications of climate change. The Copernicus Climate Change Service plays a vital role in monitoring and reporting such climatic data, reflecting the urgent need for climate action.

In conclusion, January 2025 stands out as the warmest on record, even against La Nina’s expected cooling effects. With temperatures continuing to rise, the effects of climate change are more pronounced than ever. The data from C3S emphasizes the need to address rising global temperatures and the dire consequences of failing to combat climate change effectively.

Original Source: www.newsdrum.in