Earth is warming faster than previously estimated, study shows

A paper in Geophysical Research Letters reports that global warming has accelerated since 2015, estimating about 0.35°C of warming in the decade to 2025 versus roughly 0.2°C per decade between 1970 and 2015, and notes 2024 exceeded 1.5°C for one year compared with pre-industrial averages.

A new paper published in Geophysical Research Letters reports an acceleration in global warming that began around 2015. The authors estimate about 0.35°C of warming in the decade to 2025, compared with roughly 0.2°C per decade from 1970 to 2015. The study also reports that 2024 exceeded 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial averages for a single year. Key findings: - The authors say filtered analyses that remove influences such as El Niño, volcanic eruptions and changes in solar irradiance show a stronger underlying warming signal since 2015. - The estimated warming rate for the decade to 2025 is about 0.35°C, compared with about 0.2°C per decade in the 1970–2015 period. - The paper notes 2024 surpassed 1.5°C for one year versus pre-industrial averages and states that, if the recent rate continued, a longer-term exceedance of 1.5°C could occur before 2030. Summary: The study reports a measurable acceleration in global temperatures and that recent years were the hottest on record relative to pre-industrial averages. Undetermined at this time.