El Niño and global heating pushes water vapour in Earth’s atmosphere to record levels in August

Key Points:

• In August, the planet's atmosphere contained more water vapour than any other month on record, reaching 27.35 kg per square metre, driven by global heating and a strong El Niño event, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
• This increase in atmospheric water vapour, equivalent to about 20 trillion litres of water, raises the risk of extreme heat, intense rainfall, and stronger storms due to the energy released when water vapour condenses.
• August was also the joint hottest month on record globally, with warmer air holding approximately 7% more water vapour per degree of warming, largely influenced by elevated tropical ocean temperatures linked to El Niño.
• Climate scientists warn that rising water vapour levels contribute to climate feedback loops, intensifying global warming and exacerbating extreme weather events, with fossil fuel emissions identified as the root cause.
• The current El Niño is predicted to be the strongest on record, potentially driving global temperatures to new highs in the coming year, with global heating making such ocean temperature peaks six times more likely.