The Copernicus report, which analyzed data from across the globe, found that the average temperature for the summer of 2024 was 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This figure is a significant jump from the previous record set in 2023, which was 1.1 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. The report also found that the summer of 2024 was the hottest on record for the Northern Hemisphere, with temperatures reaching 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.

“It’s not just about the temperature, it’s about the whole system.”

The study, published in Nature Climate Change, found that the Earth’s climate system is becoming increasingly unstable and unpredictable. This instability is driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. The study’s findings are based on a comprehensive analysis of data from multiple sources, including satellite observations, weather stations, and ice cores. This data reveals a clear trend: the climate system is becoming more chaotic and less predictable. The study’s authors, led by Dr. Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Change, have identified several key factors contributing to this instability.

The impact will be felt most strongly in the Northern Hemisphere, where temperatures are expected to be 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius warmer than average. The impact of La Niña on global temperatures is expected to be felt most strongly in the lead-up to the winter months, with the Northern Hemisphere experiencing a significant temperature spike in the fall. This is due to the La Niña effect on atmospheric circulation patterns.

She believes that climate change is the primary driver of these events. Francis’s research focuses on the impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. She has been studying the relationship between rising global temperatures and the occurrence of heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather phenomena.