Lake-surface temperature highs and lows 2024

According to the newly released 35th State of the Climate report, 2024 saw record highs as the climate crisis deepens. Data records such as soil moisture, lake-surface temperature, permafrost, land-surface temperature and stratospheric ozone from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative helped underpin the report’s findings.

Satellite measurements from the Climate Change Initiative Lakes Project revealed the highest recorded global lake surface temperature anomalies, with more than half of the observed lakes showing anomalies greater than +0.5 °C compared to the 1995 to 2020 baseline.

The project uses satellite observations to monitor the impact of warming on freshwater lakes worldwide, tracking water temperatures across almost 2000 lakes. This provides scientists with vital information on the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems and water resources.

The global maps show the highest lake temperature anomaly highs and the lowest lows in 2024 compared to 1995 to 2020. It is clear that there were a lot more high anomalies than lows.

Read full story: ESA data records help underpin climate change report