Turkey Sets Record for Hottest Year in 2024

Turkey experienced its hottest year in 2024, with an average temperature of 15.6°C, which is 1.7°C above the 1991-2020 average. The previous record of 15.5°C was set in 2010. Alongside drought and reduced rainfall, the country faces significant environmental challenges as global temperatures also reach unprecedented levels.

In 2024, Turkey recorded its highest annual temperature in history, officially reported by the national meteorological agency. The average temperature reached 15.6 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record of 15.5 degrees established in 2010 and exceeding the 1991-2020 average by 1.7 degrees. The year marked a continuation of rising temperatures, with every year since 2007 experiencing higher-than-normal averages, with the notable exception of 2011. This temperature surge coincided with various nations globally, including China and the United States, also experiencing their hottest years. Furthermore, the country faced a significant decline in rainfall, especially in the drought-stricken Aegean region, where precipitation fell by 22.4 percent. This drought, alongside unsustainable groundwater extraction, has exacerbated environmental issues such as sinkhole formation in Turkey’s agricultural regions.

The increasing temperatures in Turkey can be attributed to global climate change, which has resulted in extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent worldwide. The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization has recently highlighted 2024 as the hottest year on a global scale, emphasizing the critical need for nations to reassess their environmental policies and take action to mitigate climate change. The transformation in Turkey’s climate has serious implications for agriculture and water resources, thereby impacting the country’s food security in the long term and contributing to ecological destabilization.

The year 2024 marks a significant milestone in Turkey’s climate history, as it becomes the hottest year on record since meteorological observations began. This alarming trend of rising temperatures, coupled with reduced rainfall, signals an urgent need for sustainable environmental practices and effective climate policies in Turkey and across the globe. The insights from international organizations emphasize the importance of collective action in combating the impacts of climate change to avert further environmental degradation.

Original Source: www.barrons.com