Surprising Warmth: January 2025 Marks the Hottest on Record Despite La Niña

January 2025 set a record with a temperature anomaly of 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, occurring despite prevailing La Niña conditions. This anomaly was evidenced by temperature records broken in Jamaica and Madagascar, marking a significant departure from historical temperature patterns. Continuing greenhouse gas emissions seem to override traditional climatic cycles, leading experts to reassess expectations for the year ahead.

January 2025 is believed to have been the warmest January recorded, demonstrating an average temperature anomaly of 1.75°C above the pre-industrial average (1850-1900) as reported by climate scientists using the ERA5 dataset. This remarkable increase in temperature was evident globally, with temperature records broken in various locations like Jamaica and Madagascar towards the end of the month.

The unprecedented warmth observed in January 2025 is notable especially given the presence of the La Niña phenomenon, which typically leads to cooler temperatures worldwide. Historically, recent record-breaking Januaries occurred during El Niño conditions. However, the current La Niña conditions, which began in December 2024, did not temper the pronounced temperature increases; this highlights the potential influence of greenhouse gas emissions over natural climate patterns.

Despite expectations that 2025 would be cooler due to La Niña conditions, the January 2025 temperature anomaly suggests a contrary trend. As climate change continues to affect global temperatures, the possibility of surpassing previous records remains a significant concern for climate scientists. Continuous monitoring and analysis will be crucial in understanding the ongoing climatic shifts.

Original Source: www.downtoearth.org.in