by Last month the hottest January was on record, climate scientists announced – despite the start of a cold climate pattern in the Pacific and parts of the US experienced record -breaking cold.
Global surface air temperatures were on average 55.81 degrees Fahrenheit (13.23 degrees Celsius) in January 2025, against 55.65 f (13.14 C) in 2024 – the previous hottest January on registered. That increase is not huge, but scientists expected the temperature to be cooler this year.
Earth La Niña entered In January, which is the cold phase of a natural climate pattern that the El Niño-Zouthern oscillation cycle. The El Niño phase pushes the global temperatures, which took place in 2023 and 2024, while La Niña usually brings them down. The current La Niña, however, arrived later than the expectations of scientists and is unusually weak.
The unusually high temperatures in January 2025 remain an ominous trend of global warming. Last year the The hottest year on record and the first full year that 2.7 F (1.5 C) Warming over pre-industrial levels violates-the estimated average temperature between 1850 and 1900. World leaders rather agreed to limit global warming to preferably under 2.7 F and far below 3.6 F (2 C (2 C (2 C (2 C (2 C (2 C (2 C (2 C (2 C) in the 2015 Parisian Agreementa legally binding international treaty.
In January of this year, the warming was 3.15 F (1.75 ° C) above pre-industrial levels. This marks the 18th month of the last 19 to more than 2.7 F, according to one rack Released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union.
“January 2025 is another surprising month, which will take place in the past two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect at the global temperatures,” ” Samantha BurgessThe strategic leadership for the climate in the European Center for Weather forecasts with medium-sized distance, which the Copernicus program implements, said in the statement.
Related: Greenland’s ice sheet – the second largest in the world – is bursting open at alarming speed, scientists discover
Our colder than average
Weather patterns vary all over the world, so a global increase in the average temperature does not necessarily mean that every region experiences global warming. In general, the US was colder than average in January, with thunderness The east coast and the midwest and Historical Snow Storms Coating the deep south and the Gulf Coast. However, Dry conditions in South California has contributed to the deadly forest fires that Los Angeles destroyed, while places like Minnesota saw record -breaking warmth.
Warmer-Dan Average Temperatures were also reported north of the adjacent US Alaska Wash 5 F (2.8 C) above average, The Washington Post reported. Northeast and northwest -canada were also relatively warm, according to the statement of the Copernicus program.
Australia baked all over the world Historical heat wavesWhile South South America, Africa, Antarctica, Siberia and parts of Europe all usually experienced above-average temperatures.
Global warming is mainly attributed to people who release record quantities greenhouse In the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, according to a rack Published by the United Nations. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and other greenhouse gases fall heat in the atmosphere, so that the planet warms up.
Climate change threatens Billions of people. The Effects of global warming include feeding extreme weather such as forest fires; Sea level Those coastal communities threaten; And drying agricultural land, which in turn endangers the ability of humanity to grow food. Not -checked climate change will also steer a lot Species to extinction.
