In August, Earth’s atmosphere contained the highest level of water vapor ever measured. The record is raising concerns about more intense heatwaves and extreme rainfall in various parts of the world.
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The data were published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), part of the European Copernicus program. According to scientists, global warming helped create this record, as warmer air can hold more moisture. The El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean may also have played a role.
August was among the hottest months ever recorded according to Copernicus’s ERA5 data, which cover the period since 1940. In the records of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which begin in 1850, the month ranked as the hottest ever recorded.
Scientists link rising temperatures to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. At the same time, El Niño has also contributed to higher global temperatures.
According to C3S, the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere reached 27.35 kilograms per square meter in August. This figure was 0.04 kilograms per square meter higher than the previous record, set in July 2024.
The measurement represents the amount of water vapor present in a column of air above one square meter of Earth’s surface, covering the entire height of the atmosphere. Scientists estimate that the difference of 0.04 kg/m² translates into around 20 trillion liters of additional water in the atmosphere.
Julien Nicolas, a senior scientist at C3S, said the new water vapor record was consistent with the exceptionally high global temperatures recorded in August. He explained that air can hold around 7% more water vapor for every one degree Celsius of global warming.
The tropical oceans are one of the main sources of water vapor in the atmosphere. In August, sea surface temperatures in these regions were exceptionally high. These conditions, partly linked to the strengthening of El Niño, increased evaporation and are thought to have contributed to the new record.
An atmosphere with more moisture can bring more intense rainfall, including the precipitation associated with cyclones and powerful storms. When vapor condenses inside clouds and turns into water droplets, heat is released, which can increase the strength of storms.
High humidity can also make heatwaves more dangerous. It prevents temperatures from falling at night and makes it harder for the human body to recover after days of excessively high temperatures.
Water vapor is itself a greenhouse gas and plays an important role in Earth’s climate. As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more water vapor. This additional moisture strengthens the greenhouse effect and may further accelerate warming.
Although the recorded increase may appear small in absolute terms, scientists emphasize that a continued rise in atmospheric moisture could have significant consequences for extreme temperatures, rainfall and storms.
El Niño, which is developing in the tropical Pacific, is expected to be among the strongest episodes ever recorded. Scientists warn that the phenomenon could affect global temperatures throughout the following year as well.
