Planet Stubbornly Refused to Cool Down, Set Another Hottest Month Record in January

The average surface air temperature of the globe last month was 0.79 degrees C above the 1991 to 2020 average for January, and a downright alarming 1.75 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature. According to Copernicus, that was the 18th month out of the last 19 where the global average surface temperature exceeded the 1.5-degree threshold set forth in the Paris Agreement.

The last year or two of excess heat — even beyond what had been predicted by models — has left scientists at least a little bit baffled. There are chances it stems from a reduction in sulfur pollution from a change in marine shipping rules (the sulfur acts as a cooling sun shield of sorts), among other possibilities, or we could really be in a period of accelerated warming that will persist.

January’s heat was worst over parts of Canada and Alaska, as well as Siberia. Elsewhere in the north, a recent heat wave sent temperatures at the north pole skyrocketing by 20 degrees C past their average; things are not looking good at the top of the world. Other January hot spots included southern South America, much of Australia, and Antarctica.

NOAA recently reported that La Niña conditions have in fact arrived, so maybe we’ll get some relative relief soon. But they won’t last: NOAA says those conditions are expected to stick around only through April. Summer on the way.