Over a century of global warming is not a uniform process and does not guarantee that each subsequent summer will be hotter than the last. Denis Pishniak, candidate of geographical sciences and a specialist in atmospheric and geocosm physics, spoke in an interview with Glavkom about the importance of understanding natural temperature fluctuations and their impact on the perception of climate change.
Pishniak emphasizes that although global temperatures are gradually rising, annual fluctuations remain significant. This factor often makes it difficult for scientists to accurately predict climate trends. For example, even if this summer turns out to be quite hot, as was the case with temperatures below 40 degrees in 2024, this does not necessarily indicate a constant worsening of thermal conditions.
"Natural fluctuations have a fairly large range, and for this very reason they prevent scientists from seeing true climate trends," Pisniak explains. The coming years could be hot, he said, but could be followed by periods of cooler temperatures. Such alternation can occur repeatedly, which makes it difficult to create a clear picture of the future climate.
As for winter conditions, Pishniak soothes those who miss snow. Although climate change may affect the amount and duration of snow cover in Ukraine, it will not disappear completely.
"We will still see snow, although it may not fall as often and may not stay on the surface as long as before," the expert notes.
The global warming trend that began with the industrialization and urbanization of human civilization is a long and complex process. Pishniak notes that 1850 can be considered a tentative date for the start of climate change. Since that time, the level of greenhouse gas emissions has increased significantly, which has contributed to the gradual increase in temperatures on the planet.
