September 2020 was the warmest month in the world

Of: Staffan lindberg

Published: October 08, 2020 at 2:40 p.m.
Updated: October 08, 2020 at 2:53 p.m.

Temperatures continue to rise on Earth.

September this year was the warmest month.

– Of course, the ongoing climate change that has many negative consequences on earth is worrying, says Erik Kjellström, professor of climate at SMHI.

According to figures from the EU’s climate change service Copernicus, September this year was 0.05 degrees warmer than the same month last year.

Which in turn was the warmest September measured.

The heat record applies both in Europe and globally. According to the researchers, this is a clear sign that human emissions are increasing temperatures, the BBC reports.

Various areas of the earth have recorded heat records. Including the Arctic and Siberia, where temperatures were well above normal throughout the year.

Photo: SMHI

Erik Kjellström, professor of climatology at SMHI.

“Alarming”

Something that caused large fires and the melting of permafrost. Which in turn led to rampant climate change.

Erik Kjellström, a professor of climatology at SMHI, is not surprised by the latest record.

– Another warm month and a warm year reinforce the picture of very rapid global warming. Of course, the ongoing climate change that has many negative consequences on earth is worrying, he says.

1.3 degrees warmer

Forecasts already suggest that the entire year 2020 will be the warmest that has been measured. In August, 54.4 degrees were recorded in Death Valley in the United States, probably the highest temperature ever measured.

During the twelve months before September, the average temperature on earth was 1.3 degrees higher than during pre-industrial times.

Approaching the breaking point

A figure that is getting closer and closer to the 1.5 degrees that researchers and environmental organizations have indicated as the furthest limit to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

Erik Kjellström, however, wants to be careful when drawing conclusions based on too short time intervals.

– The long-term warming rate is about 0.2 degrees per decade. That figure still applies.

Published: October 08, 2020 at 2:40 p.m.

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