Now the World Weather Organization (WMO) has also confirmed last year’s temperature record. Data from climate services shows that 2023 was the warmest year since industrialization. However, this record could soon be broken, the institution warned.
After evaluating six different sets of measurements on Friday, the organization reported a reading of 1.45 degrees above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900). All six institutes would have classified 2023 as the warmest year. New WMO head Celeste Saulo warned that this year could see a new record.
So far, 2016 has been the hottest year since industrialization. The global average temperature at the time was about 1.29 degrees higher. In 2022 it was 1.15 degrees warmer than before industrialization. The European climate service Copernicus this week reported the global average temperature for 2023 at 1.48 degrees. For the calculation, the WMO also evaluated measurement series from three American and two British institutes. It indicates the measurement uncertainty as plus/minus 0.12 degrees. According to the WMO, the actual average temperature was probably 15.09 degrees. However, the measurement uncertainty is noticeably greater.
El Niño is expected to make 2024 a warm year
WMO head Saulo pointed out that the natural weather phenomenon El Niño affected temperatures last year. It causes water temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean and air temperatures to rise every few years. Its counterpart, La Niña, causes oppressive temperatures. “The fact that the cooling La Niña turned into a warming El Niño in mid-2023 is clearly reflected in last year’s temperature increase,” Saulo said. “Because El Niño normally has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it reaches its peak, it could become even hotter in 2024.” The US Weather Bureau expects El Niño to weaken during the spring.
“Humanity’s greatest challenge”
Saulo called on the world community to decisively curb climate change. This requires more drastic cuts in climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions and a faster transition to renewable energy sources. “Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity,” she said.
Source: Krone
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