Washington [US], March 8: February was the ninth month in a row to set record-high global temperatures.
The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service said the world had its warmest February on record. The surface air temperature averaged 13.54 degrees Celsius, which was 0.81 degrees above the average for the previous 30 years. It was also 0.12 degrees higher than the previous warmest February ever measured in 2016.
Much-above average temperatures were experienced in Central and Eastern Europe, northern Siberia, central and north-west North America, the majority of South America, across Africa and in western Australia. "February joins the long streak of records of the last few months," said Copernicus Director Carlo Buentempo in a statement.
"As remarkable as this might appear, it is not really surprising as the continuous warming of the climate system inevitably leads to new temperature extremes. The climate responds to the actual concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere so, unless we manage to stabilize those, we will inevitably face new global temperature records and their consequences." (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune