On land and at sea: February breaks temperature records

Temperature records in February were broken on land, and at sea, with the warmest recordings in modern history.

Effects from the El Niño weather event in the Pacific Ocean were cited as a contributor to the record-breaking month, one that continues a longer trend.

Since June 2023, every month has set new record air temperatures on land. In February, an average temperature 1.77°C warmer than pre-industrial levels saw the 0.12°C record from 2016 broken.

The longer trend for air temperatures shows a 12-month average of 1.56°C above pre-industrial levels. Higher than the long-sought 1.5°C limit.

Last year, the target was also broken. From February 2023 to January 2024 an average warming of 1.52°C resulted in the first year-long breach of the 2015 Paris Agreement target.

Ocean temperatures also reached record temperatures in February with an average temperature of 21.06°C. Besting the previous record of 20.98°C recorded in 2023.

Earlier this week, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that the planet is on the verge of a fourth mass coral bleaching event due to the temperatures.

The most recent mass bleaching event occurred between 2014 and 2017 which saw an estimated 15% of the world’s coral reefs die.

Coral bleaching is more common during El Niño periods but rising temperatures on land also contribute. Officials say that surpassing the 1.5°C limit on warming would see an estimated 90% of all coral reefs perish long-term.

Learn more on the El Niño Southern Oscillation with this special report from Weather & Radar meteorologist Tamsin Green: