Last year was an alarming one for our planet, marking the hottest year ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The news came on January 10, 2024, and it confirmed what many climate experts had suspected. Heat records aren’t just a passing trend; they are a clear signal of a warming world.
Take the Antarctic, for instance. In 2024, its sea ice cover hit the second-lowest level on record. The upper ocean’s heat content also reached a new high. NOAA has been tracking climate data since the 1880s, and the last decade has shown us that the upper ocean is heating up rapidly.
It’s no surprise that NOAA officials were already 77% confident by mid-2024 that the year would surpass 2023 in high temperatures. They believe that this trend will continue, making it clear that 2024 might not hold the record for long.
“The primary reason for these record temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” said Samantha Burgess, a climate expert in the EU. As more greenhouse gases gather, we face rising temperatures, elevated sea levels, and melting ice sheets.
The trend wasn’t just limited to the Antarctic. In South Carolina, places like Charleston International Airport reported temperatures about two degrees warmer than average. Last year, the area experienced 20 more days over 90 degrees, with fewer days dipping below freezing than usual.
Rainfall in Charleston totaled about 52.7 inches last year, which is average for the region. However, rainfall was inconsistent, leading to stretches of heavy downpours followed by significant drought periods. Notably, October was the second driest in decades.
Veteran meteorologist Ron Morales expressed concerns over the increasing extremes in climate. He noted that while averages can feel normal, extreme weather is becoming more common. This instability has repercussions for daily life, agriculture, and wildlife.
As we look back, we see that Earth is approaching its hottest point in millions of years, sitting 1.47 degrees Celsius above the averages from the late 1800s to early 1900s. This is particularly concerning as averages for much of the year have surpassed limits set by the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement.
Researchers warn that we are on a troubling path. Gavin Schmidt from NASA emphasized that we are experiencing heat equivalents to periods long before humans walked the Earth, when sea levels were significantly higher.
South Carolina specifically saw the impacts of climate change last year. Charleston Harbor experienced 54 tidal flooding events. This may not be a record, but it reflects historical highs compared to records from decades ago. Predictably, these “sunny day” floods will become even more frequent as sea levels rise over the coming years.
In addition to floods, South Carolina faced severe drought conditions across numerous counties last summer. This unprecedented rapid onset of drought ended only after Tropical Storm Debby brought heavy rains back to the region.
As climate patterns shift, communities must adapt to new weather realities, whether they be heat waves, flooding, or droughts. What remains clear is that we must pay attention to the signs and take proactive measures to safeguard our environment and future.
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