Scientists from the United Kingdom's Met Office reveal that global temperatures may hit their highest peaks in recent history in 2010. This event will take place as a direct result of the growing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Though some still choose to remain blind to the surrounding reality, it's becoming increasingly clear that, if action to mitigate global warming and climate change is not taken, then we could experience a lot more of these record highs within our lifetimes, the
BBC News reports.
The long-term temperature average for Earth, as estimated through numerous studies looking into the planet's past, is of 14 degrees Celsius, or 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the Met Office, 2010 could see global temperatures rise as high as 14.58 degrees Celsius, or 58.24 degrees Fahrenheit, a full 0.58C (1.04F) increase. Given that the maximum allowed limit for temperature rise before all glaciers melt is of two degrees Celsius, the forecast is very bleak. It basically means that we have already passed more than 25 percent of our alloted pollution levels, before they backfire with significant consequences.
The main “engines” behind the estimated increase are men-made global warming and a slight warming of the Pacific Ocean, one of the largest bodies of water on Earth. “The latest forecast from our climate scientists shows the global temperature is forecast to be almost 0.6C above the 1961-90 long-term average. This means that it is more likely than not 2010 will be the warmest in the instrumental record that dates back to 1860. A record warm year in 2010 is not a certainty, especially if the current El Nino was to unexpectedly decline rapidly near the start of 2010, or if there was a large volcanic eruption. We will review the forecast during 2010 as observation data become available,” a statement from the Office says.
The Met Office and the University of East Anglia are part of a group that keeps one of the three global temperature records today. Their estimates, as well as those elaborated by the other two groups, are used as a basis by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the main authority the United Nations have on global warming. The data is employed to inform policies at a global level, and is among the main datasets used by parties at the 2009 UN Climate Change Summit, currently held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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