Kristina
The summer of 2023 was Earth’s hottest since global records began in 1880, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York. The temperature of the Earth’s surface in 2023 was 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the average from 1951 to 1980. This means that 2023 was the hottest year on record since 1880.
The increase in temperature was due to a combination of natural climate variability and human-caused climate change. The natural climate variability includes El Niño and La Niña events, which can cause temperatures to rise or fall. Human-caused climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
The effects of the increased temperature in 2023 were felt around the world. In the Arctic, the average temperature was 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the 1951-1980 baseline. This caused the sea ice to melt at an unprecedented rate, leading to rising sea levels and increased flooding in coastal areas. In the tropics, the temperature was 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the baseline. This caused more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, and wildfires.
The effects of the hotter temperatures in 2023 were not limited to the environment. They also had an impact on human health. Heat waves caused an increase in heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Droughts caused crop failures, leading to food shortages and malnutrition. Wildfires destroyed homes and caused air pollution, leading to respiratory illnesses.
It is clear that 2023 was the hottest year on record since 1880. This is a result of both natural climate variability and human-caused climate change. The effects of the increased temperature were felt around the world, leading to environmental and health impacts. To prevent further warming, it is essential that we reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases and take action to mitigate the effects of climate change.
