In 2023, a heatwave hit most parts of the world, with temperatures reaching record territory.
According to NOAA's preliminary climate data and analysis. From the University of Maine Climate Change Institutethe global temperature anomaly ended at a level higher than the previous record set in 2016, which was 0.99 degrees Celsius (1.78 degrees Fahrenheit) above average.
Global observations for December are still being analyzed, but the annual temperature anomaly could end at well over 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above average. This is the first time that the average annual temperature has exceeded 1 degree Celsius.
The news comes as a surprise, as NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Agency, and the World Meteorological Organization all say 2023 is virtually guaranteed to end at record levels. isn't it.
in fact, NOAA climate scientists said: In November, there was a more than 99% chance that the year would end as the warmest period on Earth. This ratio is rarely used in the meteorological community because of the potential for error.
The agency reports that record-keeping began in 1880, and all years that make up the past decade have been the warmest on record.
What was the cause of the record heat? Some forecasters are pointing out that this is the first strong El Niño event in four years.
Each El Niño event in modern history has produced the warmest period, but the next El Niño event will surpass it.
Researcher's estimate The 2016 El Niño event directly caused an error of only 0.12 degrees Celsius (0.22 degrees Fahrenheit) out of an anomaly of 0.99 degrees Celsius (1.78 degrees Fahrenheit). This means that other weather features and climate change may play a more prominent role than they currently do. Admitted.
Record-breaking heat has caused severe drought conditions across Australia, South America and Canada.
America's northern neighbor experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with about 46 million acres burned. This is nearly three times the size of the previous record holder.
The effects of wildfires have also been felt in the United States, with historically poor air quality and days when the skies were filled with smoke.
The exact cost of heat to economies and lives will not be known for years because researchers' best estimates come from studies comparing unreliable data from countries around the world. There is a possibility.
a Recent research published in The Lancet Planet Health It is estimated that around 500,000 deaths a year worldwide can be linked to extreme heat, while the causal figure for extreme cold is closer to 4.5 million.
Monthly temperature in the United States
Contrary to world records, the contiguous United States did not have its warmest year. Through the first 11 months of this year, the country remained an anomaly of 1.1 degrees Celsius (about 2 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, warm enough to rank in the top 10.
2023 was unable to break the record set in 2012, when the average temperature was 1.81 degrees Celsius (3.26 degrees Fahrenheit), as the cold winter ended and spring began.
Despite a cold start to the year, heatwaves occurred frequently across the country from summer to fall.
In June, Puerto Rico was one of the first regions to experience life-threatening heat.
A ridge of high pressure brought the heat index to 125 degrees Fahrenheit outside of San Juan, with several days in the 90s.
In July, heat spread westward into the southern United States, with California's Death Valley nearing a world record of 134 degrees Fahrenheit, and Phoenix reporting 31 consecutive days of temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
By late summer, a heat wave enveloped the Midwest and Northeast.
Chicago recorded an all-time high heat index of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and New York City recorded back-to-back 90-degree temperatures in September.
Not only was the normal warm season hot, but above-average temperatures continued into the winter season.
Early weather forecasts showed December was set to end with temperatures at least 5 degrees Fahrenheit above the average for the entire continental United States.
record low sea ice
The combined area of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice remains at record lows for most of the year.
According to NOAA's National Snow and Ice Data Center According to (NSIDC), the amount of sea ice around Antarctica hit a record low in September, during a typical maximum period. Satellite data estimates its area to be 6.55 million square miles, an area the size of Mexico and the United States combined.
“This is a record amount of sea ice in the Antarctic lowlands,” said NSIDC sea ice scientist Walt Meyer. “Sea ice growth appears to be low almost across the continent, as opposed to specific regions.”
Arctic sea ice reached a minimum extent of just 1.6 million square miles in September, according to the analysis.
This was the sixth lowest number on record in the past 45 years.
“It's more open there than it used to be,” Meyer added. “Also, towards the North Pole, there appears to be a lot of looser, less dense ice, with some regions having fairly compact and solid sheets of ice during the summer. In recent years, this has become more common. It’s happening.”
A larger area of exposed ocean absorbs more solar energy, leading to increased global warming and less ice growth.
It is important to note that records may vary because different institutions use different methods to determine global temperature and sea ice extent. This data does not minimize the year's continued march to records never seen before by humans.
