February was warmest on record, say climate team
FEBRUARY was the ninth month in a row to smash its previous global temperature record according to Europe’s climate watchdog, Copernicus.
The latest scientific analysis also found Earth’s average temperature for the past 12 months has been highest on record - at 1.56C above pre-industrial levels.
February was 1.77C warmer than the estimated average from 1850 to 1900 while the temperature in the first half of the month was “exceptionally high” at 2 degrees more than pre-industrial levels.
But in Europe, the temperature difference was even more pronounced – at 3.30°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said: “February joins the long streak of records of the last few months.
“As remarkable as this might appear, it is not really surprising as the continuous warming of the climate system inevitably leads to new temperature extremes.
“The climate responds to the actual concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere so, unless we manage to stabilise those, we will inevitably face new global temperature records and their consequences.”
Outside Europe, temperatures were above average in places such as over northern Siberia, central and northwest North America, the majority of South America.
Scientists have repeatedly warned the world needs to drive down emissions to limit global warming to between 1.5 and 2 degrees.
Despite the streak of 1.5 and 2 degree records, the world has still not breached that goal, which is measured over years as a long-term average.
But experts have warned it could be crossed in the next decade.