The global average temperature across the Earth as per latest reports, may be record breakingly warm between 2020 and 2024. The warmest year tag at present remains with 2016. However, a new year may take the crown in the coming 5 years.
Each year between 2020 and 2024 are likely to be around 1.06 °C to 1.62 °C more than the pre-industrial conditions, due to which 2016’s 1.16 °C record may soon be broken. Talking about the overall 5 year period, average temperatures will be between 1.15 °C and 1.46 °C above pre-industrial levels.
This is in comparison to 2015-2019, where the warming was at 1.09 °C, being the warmest 5-year period ever recorded. Global average temperatures have only been increasing because of greenhouse gases being on the higher side.
These temperatures are consistent with continued high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. There are a few uncertainties, however, warmer patterns are likely in North Europe, Asia and North America. Cooler conditions at present in the northern Atlantic region may also become warm.
While the forecast does talk about an expected increase in the global average temperature during the coming five years, the chances of each year exceeding 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial levels is less than 10 per cent.
Image Credit: wikipedia
