Washington DC, United States

Amid the looming climate crisis and people battling unpredictable weather, the month of March has emerged as the 10th consecutive hottest month. 

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The month has set a new monthly record for global heat on Earth as temperatures in both the world's air and oceans reached an all-time high, said the European Union climate agency Copernicus.

The temperature in March 2024 stood at an average of 14.14 degrees Celsius (57.9 degrees Fahrenheit) which exceeded by a tenth of a degree the previous record which was set in 2016, as per the Copernicus data. 

Heat records have been broken every month since last June and marine heatwaves across the oceans have largely contributed to it. 

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According to the scientists, the record-breaking heat which was recorded at this time was not very surprising because of the strong El Nino, which is a climatic condition which warms the central Pacific and brings change in the global weather patterns.

Also Read: 'Right against adverse effects of climate change part of right to life': India's Supreme Court

Speaking to news agency Associated Press, Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist Jennifer Francis said, “But its combination with the non-natural marine heat waves made these records so breathtaking."

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Francis said that since El Nino is waning, the average global temperature should decrease now. 

The major reason behind the record heat, as cited by climate scientists, is human-caused climate change caused by methane and carbon dioxide emissions produced by the burning of natural gas, oil and coal.

“The trajectory will not change until concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop rising,” said Francis, adding, “Which means we must stop burning fossil fuels, stop deforestation, and grow our food more sustainably as quickly as possible. Until then, expect more broken records."

Climate change may move 'into uncharted territory': Scientist

A leading scientist, while speaking to the BBC, said that climate change could move "into uncharted territory" if temperatures do not decrease by the end of the year.

Watch: Artificial cooling of the atmosphere; A new hope in climate change battle

The scientist issued the warning after March emerged as the warmest month on record. This new record has raised concerns among some scientists that the world may enter a new phase of faster climate change. 

Speaking to BBC News, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies Gavin Schmidt said, "By the end of the summer, if we're still looking at record-breaking temperatures in the North Atlantic or elsewhere, then we really have kind of moved into uncharted territory." 

(With inputs from agencies)