2024 was recorded to be the hottest year on this planet in the last several decades, with the surface temperature amounting to 1.54 (±0.13) °C above the pre-industrial levels declared by the World Meteorological Organization or WMO. In fact, if we consider the hottest years on record, it would be the last eight years, with 2024 being the worst. Countries across the world witnessed a drastic increase in surface temperature between the months of January and September. And it wasn’t just the land surfaces that were recorded to have high-temperature levels. instead, the water temperature of the seas and oceans was also found to be significantly higher than the expected limits, which ultimately culminated in the fastening melting of ice caps and disruptions in the ocean currents.
Global warming, increased pollution levels, and several other factors have contributed to such drastic increases in the earth’s temperature levels. Even though the UN jointly with other environmental organizations has proposed sustainable approaches, the long-term effect on the atmosphere and nature as a whole couldn’t be reversed overnight. So, the question is, what resulted in the rising temperatures that we have witnessed so far, especially in 2024? To answer this question, we have prepared a comprehensive guide, explaining the climate change trends and the factors contributing towards the increased land and water temperatures.
The Science Behind Rising Temperatures
The science behind the hottest years on record can be further decoded based on both human-influenced and natural events, which we have described below in brief.
Natural phenomena
- Solar radiation is one of the primary causes of increased temperatures on the Earth’s surface. With the changing position of the sun and the earth, the amount of solar heat received directly can cause warming of the atmosphere, which if retained can lead to an increase in surface and ocean temperatures. However, it is not a long-term effect and is much slower than human-induced events.
- Natural climatic oscillations, including El nino and La nina, result in shifted pressure and heat cycles over the oceans, thereby causing drastic temperature increases in several areas. For instance, El nino resulted in significant temperature rise in the Pacific Ocean and Bay of Bengal in 2024, thereby affecting the south Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and many more.
- Changes in the earth’s orbital shape, Milankovitch Cycles can result in inter-glacial periods and ice ages. However, this phenomenon takes thousands of years to recur and isn’t contributing to the current rising temperatures in various countries.
Human-induced factors
- Increased use of vehicles, burning of crops, and other such manmade events have led to higher emission rates of CO2, a major greenhouse gas. As per the records, the concentration of this gas has significantly increased over 420 ppm since the Industrial Revolution.
- Human activities like rice paddies, agriculture, and fossil fuel extraction release a significant portion of methane gas into the atmosphere. This hydrocarbon gas is more potent, almost 25% more than CO2 in trapping the solar heat and causing global warming.
- Also, consistent deforestation and urbanization have resulted in reduced green cover on the land surfaces, thereby reducing the ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Hence, the CO2 gases released into the air cannot be utilized further and contribute to the retention of solar heat, leading to global warming and increased land and water temperatures.
- The use of refrigerant liquids and other industrial processes contributes to increased air, land, and water pollution, which also indirectly causes a sudden increase in temperature levels.
Key Findings From WMO Reports
Some of the key discoveries and statements made by none other than the World Meteorological Organization about the temperature rise are:
- Global temperatures are likely to reach the 1.54 (±0.13) °C level above the pre-industrial threshold, thereby raising concerns about the Paris Agreement for global warming over the next few years.
- Occurrences of marine heatwaves are the result of increasing water temperature, thereby leading to increased sea level, changes in weather cycles and patterns, damage to the marine ecosystem, and coral bleaching.
- North America, Asia, and Europe have experienced drastic heat waves with increased frequency in the latest years, which have caused several fatalities in terms of deaths due to heat strokes, burning of cars and other properties, widespread droughts, and many more.
- Arctic Amplification is the result of increased global warming, a phenomenon describing the melting of ice caps in the Arctic region. This has resulted in changes in the polar ecosystems, increased sea levels, and changes in the ocean currents and water salinity.
- CO2, N2O, CH4, and other greenhouse gases are continuously rising in concentration, with no sign of stagnancy despite several sustainable and eco-friendlier practices already implemented in place.
Impacts of Hottest Years on Record
Based on the WMO reports, the hottest years recorded so far have had a huge impact on the entire world, like:
- Europe witnessed numerous wildfires, crop failures, and health issues in 2019 due to sudden changes in global weather patterns.
- Pakistan and India have suffered from widespread shortage of water and increased frequency of heat waves over areas that were never in the said geographical belt.
- Coastal flooding has also increased in several areas around the world due to the expansion of seawater.
- Bangladesh, India, Philippines, and other low-lying coastal countries have a huge threat of displaced population due to the increase in sea levels.
- The Black Summer bushfire that raged a devastating period in Australia in 2019-20 was a result of increased land temperature and changing weather patterns.
What Global Temperature Rise Trends Mean for the Future?
The hottest years on record have proven that the global temperature will soon cross the threshold of 1.54 (±0.13) °C above the pre-industrial level. It will further impact the world in numerous ways that might bring large-scale devastation to both nature and mankind.
- Weather anomalies might become more frequent due to shifting heat and pressure belts, especially El nino and La nina.
- Biodiversity will be at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat, changing climate conditions, and natural calamities like wildfires and floods.
- Freshwater might reduce in volume, thereby threatening a worldwide shortage of drinking water in several countries, especially those in African and Asian continents.
- Coastal cities might disappear due to rising sea levels.
How Can We Combat the Crisis?
Although not proven yet, several strategies can help us combat the crisis caused due to hottest years on record, like:
- Rapid reduction of greenhouse gases by reducing dependencies on fossil fuels, manufacturing energy-efficient appliances, and decarbonizing transportation.
- Taxes and stringent regulations should be placed on carbon emissions and utilization across all industries.
- Developing and developed countries should invest in climate-proofing infrastructures to ensure they can withstand natural calamities.
- Green infrastructure should be promoted to impart a cooling effect and increase the overall green cover in urban areas.
- Forest management strategies should be implemented to preserve green lands and biodiversity.
- Both the Paris Agreement and Global Climate Cooperation should be strengthened further.
Conclusion
While sustainable practices are already implemented across various sectors, like carbon use taxes, eco-friendlier housing infrastructure, and forest conservation plans, more efforts will be needed to counterattack the impact of the hottest years on record. If not, the coming years will become more difficult and might result in large-scale devastation, like increased wildfires, coastal flooding, sudden volcanic eruptions, and many more.
