Global Warmth Surges to New Records in September, Scientists Say
September saw a significant surge in global warmth, breaking the previous record by more than half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit). According to climate scientists, this increase is the largest monthly margin ever observed, surpassing the astonishing increases seen in July and August.
Analyses conducted by European and Japanese climate scientists show that temperatures around the world last month were closer to normal for July. The average temperature in September was approximately 0.88 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1991-2020 levels, or about 1.7 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrialization levels and the widespread use of fossil fuels.
This data confirms the acceleration of the warming trend that alarmed scientists over the summer when the planet’s temperature reached its highest level in modern records, possibly in thousands of years. Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather described the September warming as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas” and emphasized that the record was smashed by a margin never witnessed before.
Scientists rely on climate models to estimate global warmth by extrapolating average temperatures worldwide. These models have proven to be a reliable complement to the assessments conducted by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, albeit with more time required for data review and processing.
Temperature data derived from weather satellites also confirmed that September 2023 was the warmest on record. Scientists attribute this extreme warmth to both human-caused climate change and the presence of El Niño, a climate pattern that appeared in June and is expected to reach peak strength this winter. Climate forecasts suggest that this El Niño could be one of the strongest ever observed.
El Niño typically increases global temperatures by a few tenths of a degree Celsius, exacerbating global warming caused by the greenhouse effect and the burning of fossil fuels. Warm Pacific Ocean waters indicate the presence of El Niño as wind patterns allow heat stored at deeper levels in the ocean to rise to the surface and be released into the atmosphere.
Notably, this year’s global temperatures are considerably higher than during the last major El Niño event in 2015 and 2016. Marine heatwaves have also been observed worldwide this summer, and global air temperatures have set records for the past two months consecutively.
Scientists warn that these unprecedented spikes in temperatures increase the likelihood of severe heatwaves and deadly floods that have affected various parts of the world in recent weeks and months. Urgent action is necessary to address the underlying causes of climate change and mitigate its catastrophic impact on the planet.