Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The planet's relentless fever continued through May 2024, which has been officially ranked as the second-hottest May in 175 years of global climate records. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the global surface temperature was a staggering 1.17 degrees Celsius (2.11°F) above the 20th-century average, underscoring a persistent and dangerous warming trend.
This marks the 12th consecutive month that global temperatures for the respective month have ranked among the top five warmest on record. The data points to a climate system under extreme stress, with multiple critical indicators flashing red.
Perhaps most alarming is the state of the world's oceans, which absorb the vast majority of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. May 2024 was the 14th consecutive month that global ocean surface temperatures hit a record high for the month. This continuous super-heating of the oceans fuels more extreme weather events, threatens marine ecosystems, and contributes to sea-level rise.
The cryosphere—our planet's frozen regions—also showed clear signs of distress. In the Arctic, sea ice extent was significantly below average, ranking as the 15th smallest in the 46-year record. Similarly, the Antarctic saw its 10th smallest sea ice extent for May. The consistent decline of polar ice is a primary driver of rising sea levels and disrupts global weather patterns.
Looking ahead, NOAA scientists have calculated a 61% probability that 2024 will go down as the hottest year on record, with a 39% chance it will be the second hottest. While the La Niña climate pattern—which typically has a slight cooling effect on global temperatures—is expected to develop soon, the underlying, human-caused warming trend is so powerful that it is likely to overwhelm any temporary natural cooling. The data presents an unambiguous picture: the Earth's climate is moving deeper into uncharted and dangerous territory.
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