Earth Experiences Hottest Summer on Record, Signaling Onset of Climate Breakdown

GENEVA — European scientists have declared that the planet endured its hottest June through August on record, marking an alarming milestone in the ongoing climate crisis. Additionally, ocean temperatures reached unprecedented highs in August, while Antarctic sea ice remained at a record low for this time of year.

August also claimed the dubious distinction of being the hottest on record, with a significant margin, making it the second-hottest month ever recorded, following July 2023. These findings were reported jointly by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service, defining the summer period as June, July, and August. Officially, the first day of fall is not until September 23.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, stating, “Our planet has just endured a season of simmering – the hottest summer on record. Climate breakdown has begun.”

Unprecedented Ocean Temperatures and Diminishing Antarctic Sea Ice

In August, the average global monthly ocean-surface temperatures reached nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a new record. The temperature surpassed the previous record observed in March 2016 and continued to break records each day throughout the month, according to the WMO.

In addition to warm ocean temperatures, the extent of sea ice in Antarctica reached a historic low for the month of August, registering a monthly value 2% below the average. This marked the “largest negative anomaly” for August since records began in the late 1970s, as reported by the WMO.

Petteri Taalas, the secretary-general of the WMO, highlighted the exceptional nature of these observations, saying, “Antarctic sea ice extent was literally off the charts, and the global sea surface temperature was once again at a new record. It is worth noting that this is happening BEFORE we see the full warming impact of the El Niño event, which typically plays out in the second year after it develops.”

2023 Temperature Trends

The year 2023, covering January through August, now stands as the second-warmest on record, trailing behind only 2016, which experienced a powerful El Niño event. Scientists attribute this warming trend to human-caused climate change driven by the combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas, with an additional influence from a natural El Niño, characterized by temporary warming of tropical Pacific Ocean waters.

Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The scientific evidence is overwhelming – we will continue to see more climate records and more intense and frequent extreme weather events impacting society and ecosystems, until we stop emitting greenhouse gases.”

Impact on Air Quality and Health

The announcement of record-high global temperatures coincided with the release of the World Meteorological Organization’s latest bulletin on air quality and climate. The report highlighted that extreme heat, exacerbated by wildfires and desert dust, has had measurable repercussions on air quality, human health, and the environment.

Petteri Taalas commented on the severity of the situation, saying, “The Northern Hemisphere just had a summer of extremes – with repeated heat waves fueling devastating wildfires, harming health, disrupting daily lives, and wreaking a lasting toll on the environment.”

Upcoming Reports

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA are expected to release their climate data for the summer later this month. While both agencies use different datasets from the WMO and Copernicus, it is anticipated that they will also confirm the record-breaking nature of the summer of 2023.