September 2023 Sets New Global Temperature Record, Alarming Scientists
The global temperature for the month of September has reached alarming levels, according to climate scientists. Zeke Hausfather, a researcher at Berkeley Earth, described the month as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.” The graph created by Hausfather shows temperature anomalies, with 2023 soaring above previous years since May. The month of September alone beat the previous monthly record by more than 0.5° Celsius.
The average global temperature for September was 1.8° C hotter than preindustrial levels, surpassing the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5° C. Climate scientists expressed shock and concern over the severity of the temperature rise. Kate Marvel, a senior scientist at Project Drawdown, described it as “concerning, worrying, wild.”
The extreme temperatures witnessed this summer are a result of various climate science factors. The increase in greenhouse gases contributes to more warming. However, factors such as El Niño and the decrease in cloud cover due to new regulations are injecting additional uncertainty into the climate system. El Niño, a cyclical natural process that redistributes heat, can increase temperatures by a couple tenths of a degree Celsius. Scientists are also studying the impact of the International Maritime Organization’s restrictions on sulfur in shipping fuel, which may have contributed to less cloud cover, allowing more sunlight to warm the Earth.
Other factors, such as the underwater volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga in 2022, may still be influencing global temperatures. Marvel explained that the eruption released water vapor into the stratosphere, which is a greenhouse gas. While this effect is minimal, when combined with other factors, it contributes to the overall increase in temperatures.
The September temperature record does not mean that the Paris Agreement’s 1.5° C limit has been surpassed on a sustained basis. However, scientists are growing increasingly concerned about the speed at which the threshold is being approached and the severity of the climate change impacts being witnessed. The effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced, with heavier rainfall, more intense hurricanes, and devastating wildfires becoming more frequent. The rise in temperature also contributes to the proliferation of bacteria and fungi, posing risks to human health.
The alarming temperatures observed in September highlight the urgency of addressing climate change. Kate Marvel emphasized that every tenth of a degree and every ton of emissions avoided matters. The world must strive to not only meet but exceed the goals set by the Paris Agreement. As Marvel warned, “This is not safe; we now know how 1.5 is not safe.”