UNITED NATIONS: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency based in Geneva, has issued a stark warning, stating that 2023 is likely to become the warmest year on record, driven by rising global temperatures. The WMO’s recent observations reveal alarming data that reinforces concerns about climate change and its ramifications.
Record-Breaking Temperatures: According to the WMO, the global mean temperature for the calendar year to date is the highest ever recorded, with a staggering increase of 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This concerning elevation in temperatures accentuates the ongoing challenge of global warming.
El Nino’s Influence: The WMO anticipates that the El Nino climate pattern will continue to fuel rising temperatures until at least April 2024. As the effects of El Nino typically manifest in the year following its development, there is a possibility that the subsequent year may experience even higher temperatures.
Human-Induced Climate Change: The agency emphasizes that while El Nino is a naturally occurring phenomenon, it now operates within the context of climate change driven by increasing concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases produced by human activities. This emphasizes the urgent need for mitigating human-induced climate change to curtail extreme weather events.
Worsening Extreme Weather: WMO’s Head, Petteri Taalas, warns that regions across the globe will experience exacerbated extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, heavy rain, and floods. Recognizing these threats, WMO remains committed to its “Early Warnings For All” initiative to save lives and reduce economic losses.
2016’s Precedence: The previous warmest year on record was 2016, marked by a combination of an exceptionally strong El Nino and climate change. This historic precedent underscores the significance of the current climate trajectory.
Ocean and Atmospheric Data: The WMO’s analysis of ocean data reveals that since May of the current year, monthly average sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific have been consistently rising. In September, these anomalies reached around 1.5°C above the 1991-2020 baseline period. Forecasts suggest that this warming trend will persist in the Pacific for at least the next four overlapping three-month seasons, extending through February-April 2024.
Notable Climate Conditions: October 2023 was the warmest October on record, surpassing the previous record by 0.40°C.
Antarctic sea ice extent has remained at record low levels for the past six consecutive months, underscoring concerns about melting ice.
Arctic sea ice extent for October ranked as the seventh lowest in the dataset, indicating ongoing reductions in polar ice.
El Nino conditions have been developing in the equatorial Pacific, although they remain less severe than during historically strong events in 1997 and 2015.
Europe experienced above-average precipitation, including the impact of storms Babet and Aline, leading to heavy rain and flooding in various regions.
The findings from the WMO’s report underscore the urgent need for global efforts to address climate change, reduce emissions, and mitigate its far-reaching consequences.
