In September 2023, the world experienced its warmest September on record, surpassing the previous record by a significant margin. Data from the EU climate service reveals that the global average temperature for the month was 0.93 degrees Celsius higher than the average for 1991-2020, and 0.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the previous record set in 2020.
Two main factors drove this extreme heat. First, ongoing emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, continue to contribute significantly to global warming. Second, the El Niño weather event played a role by releasing warm water into the East Pacific, intensifying heat transfer to the atmosphere.
The magnitude of this temperature rise left scientists stunned. Zeke Hausfather, an experienced climate researcher, described it as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.” The data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, dating back to 1940, indicates the most significant deviation from the long-term average.
Regional variations in temperature were even more striking. Europe experienced temperatures 2.51 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, underscoring the urgency of addressing global climate change.
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To gauge the severity of climate change, scientists often compare current temperatures to the pre-industrial era, before widespread fossil fuel use. In September 2023, temperatures exceeded pre-industrial levels by approximately 1.75 degrees Celsius, marking the highest deviation for a single month ever recorded.
While September’s temperature surge did not breach the Paris Agreement’s threshold, it is indicative of a worrisome trajectory. Scientists warn that 2023 is “on track” to become the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous record-holder, 2016, by 0.05 degrees Celsius.
The ongoing El Niño event continues to exacerbate global temperatures by releasing additional heat into the atmosphere. With El Niño yet to peak, global temperatures may continue to surge above normal levels.
As COP28, the global climate summit, approaches in late November, the startling temperature data places immense pressure on political leaders to take swift and decisive action. Dr. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), stressed the urgency for ambitious climate action, emphasizing that the sense of urgency has never been more critical.
Source: bbc.com
