World Witnessed Warmest March In 2024, Says EU As 12-Month Average Temperature Reaches New Record

C3S stated that the global average temperature breached the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold for an entire year for the first time in January.

The European Union's climate agency said on Tuesday that the world experienced the warmest March ever due to a combined effect of El Nino and human-caused climate change. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the average temperature of 14.14 degrees Celsius in March was 1.68 degrees Celsius higher than the month's average for 1850–1900, the designated pre-industrial reference period. With this, March became the 10th consecutive month since June last year to set a new temperature record.

It is 0.73 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 average for March and 0.10 degrees Celsius above the previous high set in March 2016. "The global average temperature for the past 12 months (April 2023–March 2024) is the highest recorded, at 0.70 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 average and 1.58 degrees Celsius above the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average," the climate agency said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

C3S stated that the global average temperature breached the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold for an entire year for the first time in January. A permanent breach of the 1.5-degree Celsius limit specified in the Paris Agreement, however, refers to long-term warming over many years.

There is a need for nations to limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial period to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, according to climate scientists. According to PTI, the global surface temperature of the Earth has already risen by around 1.15 degrees Celsius compared to the average in 1850–1900, a level that hasn't been witnessed since 1,25,000 years ago, before the most recent ice age. This warming is considered the reason behind record droughts, wildfires, and floods worldwide.

The increase in global average temperature is attributed to the rapidly increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere. "March 2024 continues the sequence of climate records toppling in both air temperature and ocean surface temperatures, with the 10th consecutive record-breaking month."

Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S said, "The global average temperature is the highest recorded, with the past 12 months being 1.58 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Stopping further warming requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions," as quoted by PTI.

The warming may set a new record in 2024 as scientists say El Nino -- periodic warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean -- typically has the greatest impact on global climate in the second year of its development.

In its March update, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said that the continuing, albeit weaker, El Nino and predicted above-normal sea-surface temperatures over much of the global oceans are expected to lead to above-normal temperatures over almost all land areas until May and influence regional rainfall patterns.

The India Meteorological Department has also warned of extreme heat during the April-June period when around a billion people are expected to exercise their franchise during the seven-phase general elections, heightening concerns about vulnerability to heat waves, as reported by PTI. There is a chance of La Nina developing later in the year.

The Scientists have been closely monitoring the development in India. The have said that La Nina conditions setting in by June-August could result in better monsoon rains this year compared to 2023.