- Global temperatures in 2023 and 2024 reached record highs, surpassing previous projections.
- The shift from La Niña to El Niño in 2023 released stored heat, driving temperatures to unprecedented levels.
- Scientists warn that weakened carbon sinks and ocean warming could signal broader climate destabilisation.
Global temperatures in 2023 and 2024 reached unprecedented levels, prompting scientists to search for answers. While scientists have understood global warming from greenhouse gas emissions for decades, these recent records surpassed expectations.
Natural climate variability contributed to the temperature spike. For the past few years, three La Niña events dominated, temporarily slowing warming by absorbing heat into the oceans. In 2023, the shift to El Niño released this stored heat, pushing global temperatures to levels not seen in 100,000 years, according to paleoclimatologists.
Experts are exploring multiple theories to explain the rise in temperatures. One possibility involves the decline in low-altitude clouds. Changes in atmospheric composition may have allowed more heat to reach Earth’s surface. A recent study suggests that cleaner maritime fuels, mandated since 2020, reduced sulfur emissions that previously helped cool the planet.
Natural carbon sinks, such as oceans and forests, have weakened. A preliminary study last summer revealed that these CO2 absorbers no longer function as effectively. The Arctic tundra, for example, now releases more CO2 than it absorbs. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data confirmed this alarming trend.
Scientists warn that these changes could weaken the planet’s climate resilience. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, raised concerns about the rapid warming of oceans. He noted that scientists still cannot fully explain this phenomenon, which could indicate broader climate destabilisation.
At the American Geophysical Union conference, experts like Gavin Schmidt, Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute, acknowledged that the climate system might undergo fundamental shifts. They said that if temperatures stay high beyond 2025, scientists may need to reassess current climate models.
Climatologists also warn that runaway climate change, though difficult to detect, cannot be ruled out. Sonia Seneviratne, a researcher at ETH Zurich, urged further research to understand the role of factors such as solar activity, volcanic eruptions, and human emissions.
Experts stress the need for urgent action as the world enters an unprecedented climate phase. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing data collection remains essential to understanding and mitigating the ongoing crisis. The clock is ticking, and the window to limit further climate disruption is rapidly closing.