NOAA 2024 Global Climate Report: Record-Breaking Temperatures and Persistent Warming Trends
The 2024 Global Climate Report by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) highlights significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns, underscoring the ongoing impact of climate change.
Key Findings from the 2024 Report:
1. Global Temperature Records:
- April 2024: The global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for April, at 1.32°C (2.38°F) above the 1901-2000 average. This surpasses the previous records, indicating a persistent warming trend.
- January-April 2024: The year-to-date global surface temperature was 1.34°C (2.41°F) above the 1901-2000 average, marking it as the warmest in the 175-year record for this period.
2. Regional Temperature Highlights:
- North America: Experienced its second warmest April on record, with temperatures 2.45°C (4.41°F) above the average. The contiguous U.S. had its warmest April since 2017.
- Caribbean Region: Recorded its warmest April, 1.40°C (2.52°F) above the 1910-2000 average, continuing a trend from previous years.
- Hong Kong: Reported its warmest April on record, with mean temperatures 3.4°C above the 1991-2020 average, influenced by unusually warm sea surface temperatures and strong southerly flow.
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3. Ocean Temperatures:
- Sea Surface Temperatures (SST): Record-warm SSTs were observed across the northern and equatorial Pacific, the tropical Atlantic, and parts of the Indian Ocean. Cooler-than-average SSTs were limited to areas of the southeastern Pacific and parts of the Southern Ocean.
4. Temperature Anomalies:
- Northern Hemisphere: Land temperatures were 2.53°C (4.55°F) above average, making it the warmest on record for April. Ocean temperatures also set a new record at 1.16°C (2.09°F) above average(NOAA NCEI)..
- Southern Hemisphere: While not as extreme, still experienced significant warming, particularly in ocean temperatures which were 0.93°C (1.67°F) above average, the warmest on record (NOAA NCEI)..
5. Year-to-Date Analysis:
- From January to March 2024, the global surface temperature anomaly was 1.35°C (2.43°F) above the 1901-2000 average. This period was characterized by widespread record warmth in South America, southern and western Europe, Southwest Asia, and many parts of Africa. Cooler-than-average conditions were observed in parts of Antarctica, northern Iceland, and Greenland(NOAA NCEI).
These findings underscore the critical need for continued efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts. The data indicates that 2024 is on track to be one of the warmest years on record, with significant implications for ecosystems, weather patterns, and global climate policies.