We Are All Record Breakers Now!

Breaking heat records became a commonplace event in the period February-July 2024. Fifteen annual national temperature records were set. One hundred and thirty monthly national temperature records were also broken. There's actually been tens of thousands of local highs, from the Arctic to the South Pacific (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/14/unprecedented-number-of-heat-records-broken-around-world-this-year). Breaking an ambient temperature record isn't, of course, a reason for wild celebrations. Temperature elevations increase the risk of wildfires, sending yet more 'greenhouse gases' into the atmosphere (it's what's known as a vicious cycle). They make working difficult. They also drive up the human death rate, from heat stroke; respiratory disorders; cardiovascular events etc. Temperature hikes also elevate sea level, causing some island nations to disappear. Many of humanity's cities are also coastal. Elevated sea levels don't just benefit real estate folk, by increasing the availability of saleable beach side property (notatum bene Mr Trump)! The widespread flooding will reduce the land available for food production etc. Freshwater sources will become contaminated with saltwater etc.; etc. Temperature records were easy to predict, in the latter half of 2023. Human-mediated climate change was synchronised with the El Nino event. Worryingly, although El Nino has been fading since February 2024, this appears to have brought little relief. Heat records now seem likely to be annual events.