Pre-Industrial Era Benchmark: The average global temperature between 1850-1900 serves as the baseline for measuring temperature changes.
Record Highs: 2023 is on track to become the warmest year ever recorded, with temperatures nearing 1.4°C above the pre-industrial era average.
Monthly Records
September 2023: The average surface air temperature was 16.38°C, which is 0.93°C higher than the September average between 1991 and 2020. It was also 0.5°C warmer than the previous record set in September 2020.
July and August 2023: These months also set new records for the highest global mean temperatures.
Regional Impacts
Europe: Most of Europe experienced significantly higher temperatures than the average from 1991 to 2020.
Antarctic Sea Ice: The extent of sea ice has remained at very low levels, with both daily and monthly extents dropping to their lowest annual peaks.
Arctic Sea Ice: The monthly average sea ice extent reached its annual minimum of 4.8 million km^2, about 18% below the 1991-2020 average for September.
Why It Matters
1.5°C Threshold: For more than 80 days in 2023, the global temperature was at least 1.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels. Crossing this threshold is considered critical for avoiding catastrophic climate impacts.
Sea Ice Extent: Reduced sea ice affects global weather patterns and sea levels.
Heatwaves: Increased temperatures can lead to more frequent and severe heatwaves, affecting human health and agriculture.
Understanding these fundamentals is crucial for grasping the severity of the current climate situation and the urgent need for action.
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