The month of March is coming to an end and it has been marked by numerous heat waves all around the planet, particularly notable in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.
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202 countries broke at least one heat record in March. Particularly notable: Indonesia and Thailand have experienced daily record temperatures continuously since the start of the year, that is to say 91 days in a row. Drawing up the complete list would be a priesthood, we can nevertheless mention the 42°C displayed on the thermometer in Rio de Janeiro and 39°C in Nicaragua. In Europe, it was almost 30°C in Hungary and Slovakia, which corresponds to summer temperatures at the start of spring.
In Africa, schools had to close because of the heat in South Sudan, the temperature reached more than 40°C in Lomé and even 46°C in Chad. And Ivory Coast was not spared even though the country had already recorded a record temperature of 41°C in February.
Ivory Coast facing an exceptional heat wave
The cumulative effects of global warming and El Niño
The cause is the effects of global warming induced by human activities. It intensifies and makes heat waves more frequent. A study published in the journal Science even explains that these heat domes now cover a larger area and last longer than before.
Added to this is a more cyclical element: the El Niño phenomenon. This regular climatic episode which occurs every 2 to 7 years is characterized by a rise in water temperature on the surface of part of the Pacific Ocean. It results in an increase in the global temperature of the planet, which increases droughts and floods in certain regions of the world. However, it should be completed around June-July 2024.
After 2023, the hottest year ever measured, this will not prevent 2024 from being a serious contender to beat this sad record.
Read alsoSouth America, Africa: entire continents are experiencing a record heat wave