January 2025 is recorded as the warmest January despite La Nina’s cooling effects, averaging 13.23 degrees Celsius. Global temperatures have frequently exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold, highlighting ongoing concerns about climate change. The report also notes record low Arctic sea ice levels and elevated sea surface temperatures, emphasizing urgent climate action needs.
January 2025 marked the warmest January on record despite the La Nina climate phenomenon, which typically leads to cooler global temperatures, according to the European climate agency. Following the hottest year of 2024, January 2025 averaged 13.23 degrees Celsius, surpassing January 2024 by 0.09 degrees and exceeding the 1991-2020 average by 0.79 degrees. Notably, temperatures were 1.75 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial standards, with global averages reportedly above 1.5 degrees for 18 out of the last 19 months.
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), acknowledged the unexpected record temperatures despite the onset of La Nina, which can have short-term cooling impacts. La Nina typically causes fluctuations in precipitation, intensifying monsoons in India and triggering droughts in other regions like Africa and South America, while its counterpart, El Nino, generally raises global temperatures.
The period from February 2024 to January 2025 was reported to be 1.61 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial temperature baseline. Additionally, global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) exhibited unusually high readings for January, averaging 20.78 degrees Celsius—the second warmest January recorded. Although La Nina influenced conditions, warmer-than-normal temperatures persisted in the eastern Pacific.
The report also highlighted alarming trends in Arctic sea ice, which experienced its lowest levels for January, nearly 6 percent below average and closely approaching the record low recorded in January 2018. The World Meteorological Organization had previously declared 2024 the hottest year on record, with rising global mean temperatures indicating concerning long-term climate change from human activities such as fossil fuel combustion.
It is essential to recognize that while temporary phenomena may impact climatic conditions, a sustained average breach of 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set by the Paris Agreement, indicates longer-term warming trends that culminate over decades. The data urges a reevaluation of climate action strategies to mitigate the ongoing crisis influencing the planet’s climate.
The article outlines the unprecedented global temperature trends observed in early 2025, emphasizing the effects of La Nina and previous climatic patterns. With January 2025 now recorded as the warmest January despite La Nina’s usual cooling, the data underscores the ongoing impact of climate change on global temperatures. It situates recent records within the broader context of climate trends, with a critical focus on Arctic sea ice and high sea surface temperatures contributing to the overall data narrative.
In summary, January 2025 not only set a record for warmth despite La Nina’s cooling influence but also reflects alarming trends in global climate change, including rising temperatures and diminishing Arctic ice. The persistence of temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius raises significant concerns about long-term climate patterns, necessitating immediate and effective climate action to confront these challenges.
Original Source: www.newsdrum.in
