In 2023 A new and unfortunate record was broken in terms of the temperatures of the Earth. Just registered The three hottest months in its history, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The month of Last August was the Second hottest month on record, and was behind July 2023. The average global temperature of the planet was 16.82 degrees. This means that it was about 1.5 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). The analysis was performed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), funded by the European Union.
During August, Heat waves occurred in multiple regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including southern Europe, southern United States, and Japan. But also In the southern hemisphere, abnormal temperatures were felt for the winter season.
In the published bulletin, it was reported that in several countries of South Americahow Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, and much of the Antarctica Temperatures were recorded well above average.
“Brazil recorded temperatures close to 42°C and, at times, 19 of its 26 states suffered heat waves,” the Copernicus experts clarified. Bolivia, Paraguay and areas of central and northern Bolivia. Argentina They also recorded above-average temperatures.” For example, in Tartagal, in the Argentine province of Salta, were recorded 40.2 degrees on August 22, a midwinter day.
Also Australia It was generally above average and recorded the second warmest national average temperature on record in August (since 1910). Sydney reflected the warm conditions by recording its warmest winter day (27.5°C) in eight years.
Meteorology experts also went beyond considering the three months and compared the current year with previous ones. The year 2023 (January to August) is the second warmest on record, behind 2016, when there was a powerful El Niño phenomenon.
This year another El Niño event is also taking place: it consists of rising temperatures in the central and eastern part of the world. Pacific Ocean equatorial, and then coupled with changes in the atmosphere. It can have repercussions such as more rains and floods in some areas of the planet and droughts in others.
After the news about the records of June, July and August temperatures, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, came out to make a strong wake-up call.
“Our planet has just endured a simmering season: the hottest summer ever recorded. Climate breakdown has begun. Scientists have long warned of what will trigger our addiction to fossil fuels,” he said.
The burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, is the main factor in the polluting emissions of greenhouse gases that have caused the increase in the average temperatures of the planet.
“Rising temperatures demand action. Leaders must accelerate the search for climate solutions. We can still avoid the worst of climate chaos, and we don’t have a moment to lose,” Guterres warned.
“Eight months after 2023, we are so far experiencing the second warmest year to date, only fractionally colder than 2016, and August is estimated to have been around 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels. What we are seeing, not only new extremes but the persistence of these record-breaking conditions, and the impacts they have on both people and the planet, are a clear consequence of the warming of the climate system,” he said. Carlo Buontempo, Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
To the average air temperatures, it was also added that the oceans also have “fever”, according to the WMO: Average sea surface temperatures were at all-time highs.
The oceanographers associated with the World Climate Research Programme, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), assessed recent global trends and what to expect in the future. Among other things, ocean warming has been observed throughout the basin and an increase in marine heat waves.
The agency noted that marine heat waves occur when the temperature of the oceans of a given region is well above average over an extended period. Rising ocean temperatures affect the marine environment and associated ecosystems, and ocean heat can also drive the development of tropical cyclones.
The monthly average ocean temperature is currently at its highest level since records began, with 27% of the global ocean experiencing a marine heatwave as of August 15, 2023.
