February 2024 marked a new peak in warmth, the hottest February on record since 1940, a milestone officially reported by the European Climate Service Copernicus (C3S). The global climate picture showed significant heat, with the average surface air temperature around the globe reaching 13.54 °C. This reading stands 0.81°C above the February average calculated from 1991 to 2020 and 0.12°C higher than the previous February record set in 2016. In parallel, sea surface temperatures in non-polar regions climbed to an all-time high of 21.09 °C, underscoring the intensity of ocean warming and the broad reach of the current climate trend. This combination of land and sea heat highlights a persistent pattern of anomalous warmth that climate scientists have been tracking for years. (Attribution: Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 report)
In a broader context, February 2024 represented the ninth consecutive month of record warmth, signaling a sustained departure from historical norms. Such a run of extreme warmth is not just a single event but part of a longer trend that has reshaped many seasonal and regional climate baselines. This persistent heat has implications for weather patterns, precipitation, and regional climate resilience across diverse parts of the globe. (Attribution: Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 report)
Across Europe, the February warmth was widespread, surpassing the long-term average in most areas. The most pronounced positive temperature anomalies occurred in Central and Eastern Europe, where wintertime heat was especially sharp and contributed to earlier snowmelt and shifts in natural ecosystems. By contrast, the Scandinavian countries and parts of northwestern Russia experienced cooler-than-average conditions, illustrating the uneven spatial footprint that can accompany broad warming. These contrasts matter for energy demand, agriculture, and local adaptation planning. (Attribution: Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 report)
Antarctic sea ice extended a seasonal retreat, reaching an annual low for February. The monthly average stood at about 2.4 million square kilometers, roughly 28% below the February average from 1991 to 2020. This retreat in sea ice is consistent with long-term trends toward shrinking Antarctic ice extent, though interannual variability remains a factor. Understanding these patterns helps scientists assess climate sensitivity and predict potential impacts on ocean circulation and marine ecosystems. (Attribution: Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 report)
In the Arctic, sea ice extent was about 2% below the long-term average, though it did not reach the unusually low levels seen in some recent years. While not the lowest on record, this signal still aligns with a broader picture of Arctic changes linked to warming temperatures, altered wind patterns, and shifts in ocean-atmosphere interactions. Researchers continue to monitor how Arctic ice evolution interacts with global climate dynamics and regional weather extremes. (Attribution: Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 report)
Historically, scientists have noted that global warming interacts with key oceanic biological cycles, influencing nutrient distribution, plankton productivity, and the timing of ecological events. As temperatures rise and circulation patterns shift, marine life experiences changes in feeding schedules, reproduction, and migration. The February 2024 observations contribute to a growing understanding of how warming oceans ripple through marine ecosystems and touch coastal communities, fisheries, and weather systems worldwide. (Attribution: Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 report)