The year 2023 is likely to be the warmest year ever recorded, and 2024 might even be hotter, climate experts said Monday.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said 2023 is already “the third hottest year” on record.”
NOAA chief scientist Sarah Kapnick, quoted by reports, said: “it is virtually certain — over 99 percent chance — that 2023 will rank among the five warmest years on record with a nearly 50 percent probability that 2023 will rank warmest on record.”
The US agency also reported that global ocean surface temperatures reached a record high in July for a fourth consecutive month due to El Niño.
Experts also said next year could be even hotter than this year because of the warming phenomenon.
Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, added it is “self-evident that the Earth is heating up.”
In the Philippines, El Niño phenomenon might persist until the first quarter of 2024, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned crop production will bear the brunt of the El Niño phenomenon.
The National Water Resources Board said water and power supply could also be affected, especially in Luzon where the Angat Dam water reserve is nearing critical level.