The photo depicts the changes in China’s average temperature during the period from 1961 to 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Global warming is the primary reason for China recording above-average temperatures, a meteorological expert said, as data showed that 2024 was the warmest year since 1961, when the country began compiling complete meteorological observation records. The nation’s average temperature reached 10.92 C last year, 1.03 C higher than the historical average, making it the warmest year on record, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Data from Weather China, the public weather service center of the CMA, shows that the average temperatures recorded across all provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland last year ranked among the highest temperatures recorded during the top four warmest years in the country’s observation history. The past four years were actually China’s top four warmest years, while the country’s top 10 warmest years have all been recorded in the 21st century, according to Weather China. “Global warming has led to phenomena such as rising sea levels and glacier melt, which continue to impact China. For instance, it has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, resulting in more frequent and prolonged heat waves while reducing the occurrence of cold events,” said Shi Ying, a researcher at the National Climate Center. Natural climate variability such as the El Nino phenomenon — the unusual warming of water surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean — has also played a role in rising temperatures. “During the decaying phase of an El Nino event, typically the following year, global average temperatures tend to rise, potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events and magnifying global warming,” Shi said. The El Nino event, which began in May 2023, has continued to influence China, contributing to its […]
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