New research showed that the next two years could be the hottest on record worldwide. The most powerful El Nino phenomenon since the 1950s is said to happen soon.
Based on findings by the UK Met Office and US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the new El Nino event is developing to become the most powerful since records started in 1950, the BBC News reported.
El Nino is described as a natural phenomenon that happens every two to seven years. It usually lasts between six and 18 months, characterized by the warming of the surface waters of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. The new El Nino is very strong that sea surface temperatures (SST) in some areas are more than two degrees Celsius over the long-term average. The event causes various natural problems for people living in the Pacific, such as the fishing industry suffering, changes in weather patterns, the spawning of several typhoons, super typhoons and hurricanes, severe flooding and very hot climates, Al Jazeera revealed.
Although the huge El Nino phenomenon happens in the Pacific, all continents in the world should expect to feel the heat. The findings, however, also showed that summers in Europe might become cooler for some time while the rest of the world warms. BBC News also pointed out that although there might be more droughts in the Philippines, East Asia and South Africa, the four-year California drought might finally end. In 2015, scientists cited that the average surface temperature of the Earth is at or near record levels at 0.68 degree Celsius over the 1961 to 1991 average.
“We know natural patterns contribute to global temperatures in any given year, but the very warm temperatures so far this year indicate the continued impact of (manmade) greenhouse gases,” said Professor Stephen Belcher, Director of Met Office Hadley Centre. He added that there was a possibility that 2016 would also be warm, clearly showing that the climate is always changing.
Professor Rowan Sutton, an external reviewer from the University of Reading, confirmed that unless there is a huge volcanic eruption, 2014, 2015 and 2016 will be among the hottest years ever recorded on a worldwide scale. The effects should be taken seriously because these are caused by energy steadily accumulating in the atmosphere and oceans of the Earth. Greenhouse gases continue to cause long term consequences for people all over the globe. There can be more catastrophic and long term problems if greenhouse gas-driven warming continues.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
