2024 will be the hottest year on Earth as global warming trends continue

The Earth experienced its warmest year on record in 2024, according to data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, a European-led environmental monitoring program.

The service said last year it exceeded the limit of 1.5°C (2.7°F) above the pre-industrial average set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, an international agreement aimed at reducing and reducing climate change, for the first time. It turned out that

“2023 was about 0.3 degrees Celsius (0.5 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than 2022, and 2024 continued to be warmer than the previous year,” said Kevin Grise, an associate professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia.

At UVA, Grise teaches a variety of weather-related classes, including Atmosphere and Weather, Introduction to Climatology, and Atmospheric Dynamics. His research explores ways to accurately predict future weather events. Part of this research involves using computer models to predict what will happen in a warming climate in the coming years based on current estimates.

“The main focus is trying to understand whether experts can say with confidence that these models capture the changes in weather patterns that will occur as the climate changes,” he said. said.

Grise’s research focuses on atmospheric dynamics and how wind circulation patterns change due to both natural cycles and climate change. In the 11 years he was at UVA, the world warmed by about 0.5 degrees Celsius, or 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gries said more heat waves are expected in Virginia as the climate continues to warm. What many people don’t realize, he said, is that many of the effects of warming occur at night.

“If people don’t have access to air conditioning, it becomes more difficult to cool down on very hot nights,” he says.

Global warming is believed to be responsible for more powerful hurricanes, more extreme rainfall events, and changes in weather patterns around the world. Hurricane Beryl set a record for the earliest Category 5 storm in Atlantic history and was the most powerful June hurricane. In the United States, Phoenix recorded 113 consecutive days of temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to National News Agency, between January and October, there were 24 weather and climate disasters that caused more than $1 billion in damages in the United States, including 17 severe storms, four tropical storms, At least 418 people were killed, including one fire and two winter storms. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Grease also pays close attention to ocean heatwaves.

“We have seen some unusual phenomena that have significant impacts on marine and tropical ecosystems,” he said. “In June, the Atlantic Basin experienced the first ever Category 5 hurricane, (Hurricane) Milton, which struck Florida and rapidly strengthened within 24 hours, reaching speeds of approximately 95 miles per hour.”

Sea level rise is a concern for coastal areas like Hampton Roads, as is the possibility of more powerful hurricanes. “Because the water is warmer, any hurricane that actually forms could be more powerful than expected,” Gries said. “As the air gets warmer, it holds more water vapor and becomes more humid, which can lead to more extreme rainfall events.”

Warm temperatures and standing water are perfect for mosquitoes. These conditions create new habitats for insect-borne diseases to migrate and can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.

This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November. A key focus will be on climate finance, with developed countries pledging to mobilize at least $300 billion a year by 2035, three times the previous target of $100 billion.

“From a policy perspective, the choice now is to focus on climate mitigation, working to stop the emissions that are causing climate change and developing ways to adapt to a warming world,” he said. ” he said. “Or a combination of the two.”