Earth's Heat Record: 2024 Tops the List

Last year, Earth broke another record. NASA confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year ever, with temperatures higher than any year since we started keeping track in 1880. Why is this happening? Scientists blame greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution. Back in the 18th century, carbon dioxide levels were around 278 parts per million (ppm). Now, we're at 420 ppm. But it's not just greenhouse gases. Natural events like the 2023 El Niño and the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption played a role too. El Niño, which started in fall 2023, pushed temperatures up in 2024. As for the volcano, it added lots of water vapor and sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere.

In 2024, the global average temperature was 2. 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1. 3 degrees Celsius) above the mid-20th-century baseline (1951–1980) and even higher compared to the late 19th-century baseline (1850–1900). This isn't surprising, as the planet had a 15-month heat streak from June 2023 to August 2024, with monthly high-temperature records being broken. NASA isn't just worried about the short-term effects. They're concerned about the long-term consequences of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate. "Not every year will break records, but the trend is clear, " said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. "We're already seeing more extreme rainfall, heat waves, and flood risks, which will only get worse as long as emissions continue. "

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