Will the warming trend continue... 2020, the 2nd warmest year on record "Worst in climate history"

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] As global warming continues, 2020 is expected to become the second warmest year on record worldwide. The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) raised concerns about abnormal climate disasters such as wildfires and floods, stating, "Unfortunately, 2020 will be another exceptional year recorded as the worst in climate history."

On the 6th, the Korea Meteorological Administration cited data released by the WMO on the 2nd (local time in Switzerland), announcing that "2020 will be the second hottest year on record."

It also warned that at least one year by 2024 could see the global average temperature rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

In fact, unprecedented abnormal climate phenomena occurred worldwide in 2020. New temperature extremes appeared in the Arctic, and vast areas in Australia, Siberia, and the U.S. West Coast were devastated by large wildfires. The Atlantic experienced a record number of hurricanes.

In South Korea, abnormal climate events such as the longest rainy season on record and a warm winter were observed.

The WMO noted that despite lockdowns due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases continued to rise, especially CO₂, which has a long atmospheric lifetime, indicating that the trend of global warming will persist.

Possibility of 2020 Being One of the Warmest Three Years on Record
[Cited from the Korea Meteorological Administration in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) press release]
[Image source = Yonhap News]

The region with the most noticeable temperature increase globally was northern Asia, particularly the Siberian Arctic. Temperatures there were more than 5 degrees Celsius above average. Verkhoyansk, Russia, known as the "coldest city in the world," recorded 38 degrees Celsius on June 20, setting a new record for the highest temperature in the Arctic Circle. The WMO explained, "This acted like pouring fuel on the fire, resulting in the most active wildfire season on record."

Continuous warming is also having a significant impact on marine environments. According to the WMO report, last year’s ocean heat content reached the highest level since 1960. The WMO analyzed, "This is a sign that the ocean’s heat absorption has been accelerating over recent decades," adding, "Due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, the remaining energy in the climate system is accumulating, with more than 90% of it being absorbed by the oceans."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.