Climate Facts: Global warming exacerbating wildfires in US , says NOAA

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can prove difficult to digest.

TheCable’s quick climate facts will help demystify these concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) says 2024 was the first year to surpass the 1.5°C threshold.

• The organisation also confirmed 2024 as the warmest year on record, with July 22, 2024 recording the highest average global temperature of 17.16°C.

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere caused by climate change have been key drivers in exacerbating wildfires in the western United States.

• The organisation said last year saw the conclusion of the El Niño event that began in 2023, transitioning towards more neutral La Niña conditions.

• NOAA said La Niña conditions — the cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean — emerged in December 2024 and were reflected in below-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean.