If you are still skeptical about global warming, this year might just change your perspective. The World Meteorological Organization has recently released their preliminary statement on the global climate for 2016; which states that global temperatures for January to September were 0.88°C above the long-term since 1961 up to the 90's average, 0.11°C above the record; which is found to have set a previous record of a year ago about 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels.
People May Have Underestimated Climate Change
In one of their statements revealed by Evening Mail, WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas has claimed that the temperature that was found in 2015 is set to be overpowered by this year's temperature making it as the hottest year to have ever been recorded.
It was allegedly believed that the provisional assessment made by the WMO has been released in order to inform the latest round of UN climate talks in Morocco; which are said to be focusing on implementing the world's first comprehensive climate treaty, the Paris Agreement.
El Nino Causes High Temperature Levels; Getting Close to Hazard Limits
Reports has it that the figures were found to be getting close to the limits previously set by the global climate change agreement which was adopted by 200 countries in Paris a year ago. Additionally, the WMO explains that El Niño have caused higher temperature levels in 2015 and 2016.
According to reports revealed by International Business Times, El Niño should supposedly be over by May 2016 - but many of its effects are still observed up to date. It was said that one of the worst affected areas was the southern parts of Africa which was even reported to have most of its rain during the Southern Hemisphere summer. Rainfall over most of the region was found to be well below average in periods between 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively.
On the other hand, considering the current standards, experts say that 2016 has been an exceptional year so far. However, they highly emphasize that the long-term warming trends mean there will be more years like it to come. Recent studies have revealed that global average temperatures which are considered as record-breaking are more likely to become the norm within the next couple of decades.
