A run of record-breaking global temperatures continued in January 2025, marking it as the warmest January on record. The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that surface air temperatures were 1.75°C above preindustrial levels, despite a La Niña weather pattern typically associated with cooling.
- Record-breaking global temperatures persist despite La Niña.
- January 2025 was the warmest on record.
- Eastern Australia experienced wetter-than-average conditions.
- Arctic sea ice reached a monthly record low.
- Sea-surface temperatures remain unusually high.
- Scientists explore factors behind ongoing warming.
The ongoing rise in global temperatures has raised concerns among climate scientists, especially given that January marked the highest temperature readings despite expectations for cooling due to La Niña conditions. The Copernicus Climate Change Service indicated that sea-surface temperatures remained unusually high across various ocean basins, contributing to this phenomenon.
Key statistics from January include:
- Global average surface temperatures were 1.75°C above preindustrial levels.
- This was the warmest January recorded since records began.
- January represented the 18th month in a span of 19 months exceeding the 1.5°C threshold.
Experts are puzzled by these persistent high temperatures, which contradict predictions following a peak El Niño event in early 2024 and subsequent transition to La Niña conditions. Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts noted that unusual ocean temperature patterns could be delaying expected cooling effects.
Climate scientists emphasize that every fraction of a degree increase above this limit intensifies extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall. Furthermore, Arctic sea ice reached its lowest monthly extent on record in January, indicating broader implications for climate stability.
The current climate Trends suggest we are experiencing some of the warmest conditions seen in over 125,000 years. As researchers continue to analyze these developments, they stress the importance of monitoring oceanic influences and greenhouse gas emissions to better understand future climate behavior.
