There is no trend reversal in sight when it comes to climate change, on the contrary. Experts report worrying record levels in several areas.
The melting of ice on land is the main contributor to sea level rise.
(dpa)
Four key indicators of climate change have hit record highs, according to the World Weather Organization’s (WMO) new climate status report. This shows the devastating consequences of human activities for the ecosystems that are supposed to ensure the survival of mankind, the WMO reported on Wednesday in Geneva. Record values were measured in the following areas:
- Rise of the sea level: The thermal expansion of seawater due to warming of the oceans and the increase in water volume due to the melting of ice on land contribute to this. According to the WMO, the increase was about 2.1 millimeters per year between 1993 and 2002, and 4.5 millimeters per year between 2013 and 2021.
- Heat content of the oceans: An almost global, area-wide system with floating measuring devices has only existed since 2006. Before that, the data situation was less good. However, all research groups working on this agree that the heat content down to a depth of 2000 meters has been increasing for decades, particularly significantly since 2016.
- Ocean acidification: According to the WMO, the oceans absorb around 23 percent of man-made greenhouse gases. The gases react with the water, causing acidification. This not only threatens the marine ecosystem. In addition: The more acidic the water, the lower the capacity, further CO2 record. The pH value indicates the acidification. The lower it is, the more acidic the water. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently reported that the surface pH of the open oceans is likely to be the lowest it has been in at least 26,000 years.
- Concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere: In 2020 it reached the record value of 413.2 ppm (parts per million particles). The average figure for 2021 is not yet available. But the Mona Loa measuring station in Hawaii reported 416.45 ppm in April 2020 and 419.05 ppm in April 2021 and already 420.23 ppm in April 2022.
Warmest years since measurements began
The WMO confirmed its preliminary calculation that the global average temperature in 2021 was about 1.1 degrees above the pre-industrial level (1850-1900) and the past seven years were the warmest on record. She had already touched on this worrying development in her preliminary status report in October. At that time, however, not all measured values were available.
A heat wave causes a severe drought in India. Climate change is leading to more extreme events.
According to a WMO forecast last week, the global annual average temperature could be more than 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial level by 2026, at least in one year. The probability of this is almost 50 percent. The hottest year so far was 2016 with 1.2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Climate is changing rapidly
“Our climate is changing before our eyes,” said WMO boss Petteri Taalas. The man-made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere prevented the earth from radiating heat into space, which is why the planet will continue to heat up for generations, “unless processes are invented to remove carbon from the atmosphere,” said Taalas. Nevertheless, the WMO emphasizes that it is important to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released now in order to keep warming below 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.