THIS year is set to be the hottest since records began, according to concerned meteorologists.
Experts are estimating a 50% to 70% chance that 2020 will end up breaking a sweltering record set four years ago.
Lockdowns all over the world have been dubbed as helping to clear the skies and reduce pollution.
However, it’s thought that this hasn’t done anything to cool the climate.
Heat records actually began to be broken from January this year.
This is why the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have predicted a 75% chance that 2020 will be the hottest year since records began.
This year has already seen raging wildfires in Australia, which were said to be fuelled by high temperatures.
Last year also saw the devastating impact of the fires along with those in areas like California and even the Arctic.
The hottest June ever recorded on Earth saw huge wildfires spreading from Greenland to Siberia to Alaska.
The Australian bushfires resulted in the loss of over half a billion animals.
Last year, devastating wildfire burned during a heatwave in AlaskaCredit: Reuters/Police Benevolent Association of New York State
Australia bushfires were raging at the start of this yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
When experts refer to global weather records beginning they’re generally referring to the mid to late 19th century.
The current record was set in 2016.
This was less unusual though because it occurred around an El Niño year, which is a predicted phase of warm weather.
2020 is not supposed to be an El Niño year, indicating there is likely another reason for the high temperatures.
Karsten Haustein, a climate scientist at the University of Oxford, explained to The guardian that although new emissions may have dropped recently, greenhouse gas levels remain high.
He said: “The climate crisis continues unabated. The emissions will go down this year, but the concentrations keep on rising.
“We are very unlikely to be able to notice any slowdown in the built-up of atmospheric GHG levels.”
The Met Office in the UK has been more cautious in estimating that there is a 50% chance 2020 will be the hottest year on record.
Brits have seen less obvious rises in temperature compared to the rest of the world.
However, April in the UK has been 3.1C above average and some records have been set in Cornwall and places in Wales.
In January, many Arctic nations were left with limited snow as the month became the hottest on record.
In February, an Antartica research base registered its highest temperature yet.
Large parts of the US have been sweltering recently and Australia has also seen record heat levels.
Even if 2020 doesn’t turn out to be the hottest year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration thinks it will be in the top five hottest years documented.
