The World Meteorological Organization, an intergovernmental organisation with a membership that includes 191 members nations and territories, claims this year’s 2015 will be the warmest year in history. The WMO adds that this year the global average surface temperature will probably reach the ‘symbolic and significant’ milestone of 1degC higher than it was before the pre-industrial 1880-1899 period. According to a five-year WMO analysis, 2011-2015 was the warmest period on record. There have been many extreme weather events, including heatwaves, that were influenced by climate changes. The global average annual near-surface temperature anomalies. (Image: www.wmo.int). Higher temperatures and higher levels of greenhouse gas WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud stated: “The global climate in 2015 is going to be remembered for many reasons. The atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases reached new heights in spring 2015, when the three-month average global CO2 concentration crossed the 400 parts/million barrier. “2015 will be remembered as the warmest year in history. This is due to the ocean’s surface temperature reaching its highest point since records began. The threshold of 1 degree Celsius is likely to be exceeded. “This is bad news for our planet,” Mr. Jarraud stated that the greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change should be and could be reduced. The skills and resources are available to take action. Future generations won’t have the same choice as us. El Nino’s warming effect likely to persist in 2016. Mr. Jarraud said: “Additionally, we are seeing a strong El Nino event that is still growing in strength. It is having an impact on weather patterns across the globe and fueled an unusually warm October. The overall warming impact of this El Nino is expected to continue into 2016.” The WMO issued its provisional statement on Earth’s climate in 2015, plus an additional 5-year analysis, to inform negotiations at the COP 21 – the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference that will be held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December. An estimate from January to October shows the world’s average surface temperature this year at 0. 73degC higher than during the 1961-1990 average of 14.0degC, and about 1degC above the 1880-1899 pre-industrial period. The January-to October period Temperature anomalies Crosses (+) indicate temperatures that exceed the 90th percentile, signifying abnormal warmth, and dashes (-) indicate temperatures below the 10th percentile, indicating abnormally cold conditions. Image: www.wmo.int. The percentage below which data drops is called the percentile. The 90th%ile indicates that the temperature is higher than 90% for all places and entities. 2015 most likely to be the hottest year. This is a temperature trend that suggests 2015 may be the warmest year ever. The global average sea-surface temperature, which set a new record in 2014, is likely to be at least equal the record in 2015.. The January-to October period saw an increase in the average temperature over land, which indicates that 2015 will likely be one of most warm years ever recorded (overland). South America currently has its hottest ever year, Asia is experiencing temperatures similar to those in 2007 (a recording), and Europe and Africa are headed for their second-warmest years. The 2011-2015 period that ended in September 2015 has shown it to be the warmest 5-year period ever recorded – approximately 0. 57degC (1. 01degF) higher than the average during the 1961-1990 period (the standard reference period). This was the most extreme 5-year period in North America, South America and Oceania for Europe, Asia, and Europe. According to the WMO, the 5-year climate analysis gives a more accurate indication of the weather than the annual report. Extreme weather events are more likely to occur if we don’t act now. 2015 El Nino Highlights: Its full impact on global temperatures in this year’s will likely continue to the peak of El Nino. Already, the effects are being felt. These storms began in the North Pacific in 2014 in summer and then spread to the South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Pacific this year. A large portion of Central America and the Caribbean saw below-average precipitation. Brazil began 2015 during a drought in the eastern and southern parts of the country. The drought was exacerbated by the lackluster rainfall in the Amazon dry season. India’s monsoon rainfall was 86% below normal. Indonesia is experiencing significantly higher wildfire numbers. Peru and Argentina have both been hit by heavy rains and flooding. Michel Jarraud has served as the WMO Secretary-General since 2004,. He believes it’s not too late to act now, a luxury that future generations won’t have. Image: unmultimedia.org. Ocean heat and rising ocean level. Our oceans are absorbing more 90% energy from the climate system’s human greenhouse gas emissions. This has resulted in rising ocean levels and warmer ocean temperatures. From January to September 2015, the global ocean heat content through both the upper 700 metres and 2,000 metres of the oceans posted record-high levels. According to the latest estimates, the global sea level during the first half 2015, was at its highest point since 1993 when satellite observation first began. Due to strong El Nino years, the Tropical Pacific experienced a significant increase in temperature, exceedingly hotter than normal. The north and south Atlantics, northeast Pacific, and large portions of the Indian Ocean had significantly warmer temperatures than average. However, the areas south of Greenland and the far southwest Atlantic had colder temperatures. Temperatures in the region: Most of the areas where temperatures were measured had temperatures that were significantly higher than average, particularly those of southern Eurasia and east Eurasia. Also, there was a lot of South America and Western North America. The warmest period for China was January to October. Africa is now the second-hottest year on record. The warmest month in Australia was October 2015. However, the Antarctic was unusually cold. The strong anomaly of atmospheric patterns, the Southern Annular Mode, lasted several months. In most of the eastern regions of North America, temperatures were lower than average. After a warm January to September period, Argentina recorded its coldest October. Heatwaves: India had a major heatwave in May and June, with maximum temperatures higher than 42degC, and 45degC in some regions. Temperatures exceeded 40degC in Pakistan in June. Europe, Africa, and the Middle East were all hit hard by heatwaves in the summer and late spring. Many areas set new records. In May, extreme heatwaves were observed in Niger, Morocco and Burkina Faso. Unusually warm weather was also experienced in Spain and Portugal. Heat waves swept across large areas in July. They affected Morocco, Denmark, Iran, the North, and Morocco in the South. Wroclaw in Poland had an all-time high temperature of 38.9degC on August 8. In August, Jordan was hit by a heatwave. It continued into September and then shifted into Eastern Europe. In the spring of 2015., several high-temperature records in South Africa were set. Drought and rain: Afghanistan, Pakistan and southeast Europe experienced heavy rainfall. The January heavy rainfalls caused
