The highest average global temperature ever observed was recorded on Monday, with 17.01 degrees, however, we will see new records very soon
On July 3, the global average temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius, its highest value ever recorded. This is indicated by current data from the US National Weather Service; however, the new record will likely be broken in the northern hemisphere during the summer. The El Niño meteorological phenomenon is behind the new temperature record, in addition to the advance of global warming.
El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific rise significantly, which has global effects on the climate and also warms the atmosphere. The previous global temperature record of 16.92 degrees Celsius was set in August 2016, which was also an El Niño year.
How does El Nino work?
The El Niño phenomenon is part of a natural climate cycle known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which involves fluctuations in sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Normally, trade winds in the Pacific blow from east to west, carrying warm water westward towards Asia and Australia. This allows cooler, nutrient-rich water to rise to the sea surface off the coast of South America, a phenomenon known as upwelling. This cold water current normally supports a large number of marine life and fisheries.
During an El Niño event, these trade winds weaken and may even reverse. This allows warm water to pool on the eastern Pacific coast near South America. This change in water temperature has a ripple effect in the atmosphere, altering weather patterns around the world. It can lead to severe flooding in some areas and drought in others.
El Niño also has a significant effect on fish and bird populations, as the warm water it brings is poor in nutrients, reducing the amount of plankton and other organisms that sustain the marine food web.
El Niño and climate change
There are several ways in which climate change can affect El Niño. Although there is no complete consensus in the scientific community, some studies suggest that climate change could make El Niño events more frequent and intense. Global warming can alter wind patterns and ocean temperatures, exacerbating El Niño conditions.
Furthermore, global warming can intensify the impacts of El Niño events. For example, droughts or floods caused by El Niño can be more severe due to higher temperatures and changes in precipitation associated with climate change.
Other possible contributors are high water vapor content in the stratosphere following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in the South Pacific and unusually high global ocean temperatures. Both carry additional heat into the lower atmosphere.
More years with El Niño in the future
High global temperatures manifest themselves in local heat waves, currently, for example, in the southern US, parts of China and the Middle East. There, the extreme heat coincided with the Hajj season, and thousands of pilgrims suffered from heatstroke, exhaustion and cardiovascular problems in temperatures of up to 48 degrees.
Experts predict that the coming years will bring new temperature records and unusual episodes of intense heat and other extreme weather events around the world. Kathryn Bowen of the University of Melbourne explains to Science Media Center Australia that “we face important decisions this year and this decade. We have to ensure that our emissions from using coal, oil and gas are reduced quickly.” Otherwise, he says, we’ll see more temperature records around the world.