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Earth's Climate 'Out of Balance': Extreme Heat Here to Stay
30 Mar
Summary
- Planet's climate is now more out of balance than ever recorded.
- A strong El Niño could push 2027 to become the hottest year.
- US heat wave was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change.
The Earth's climate system is now more out of balance than at any point in recorded history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This dire assessment comes as a recent March heat wave across the United States, analyzed as virtually impossible without human-caused climate change, shattered temperature records.
Long-term warming trends are set to intersect with a potential short-term global heat-up, possibly driven by a strong El Niño forecast for this fall. This combination could propel 2027 to become the hottest year ever recorded globally.
Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, trapping excess heat and causing significant warming of the atmosphere and oceans. This energy imbalance is melting ice caps and has dire implications for the planet for centuries to come.
