Breaking Climate Records Raises Concerns for Scientists
Photo by Pawel Janiak on Unsplash
This summer, across the globe we have seen record-breaking temperatures that are leaving scientists concerned, many saying that these climate records are unprecedented given their speed and timing. Records broken include the hottest day on record globally in June and July, extreme marine heatwaves in the North Atlantic, highest Ocean temperatures, and record low Antarctic sea ice. What do these records mean for us moving forward? Let’s find out!
Hottest July Day on Record
On July 6th, 2023 the average global temperature surpassed 17C for the first time ever, reaching 17.08C. While this year is the first El Nino year since 2016 it is clear to scientists such as Dr Friederike Otto, from Imperial College London that,
“Humans are 100% behind the upward trend… If I'm surprised by anything, it's that we're seeing the records broken in June, so earlier in the year. El Niño normally doesn't really have a global impact until five or six months into the phase."
El Nino, according to the article by BBC is the world’s most powerful naturally occurring climate fluctuation. What happens during El Nino is it brings warmer water to the surface in the tropical Pacific, pushing warmer air into the atmosphere. This phenomenon normally increases global air temperatures. However, what we are seeing this year is almost certainly due to the ongoing emissions from things such as coal, oil, and gas.
Hottest June Day on Record
In June of this year, the average global temperature was a whopping 1.47C above the typical June in the pre-industrial period. According to DR Smith, it’s unlikely that things are going to cool down and scientists do not know what to expect going forward. This is completely uncharted territory as the Earth has never been pushed to this level of warming.
Marine Heatwaves
The heatwaves that we are seeing in the North Atlantic may be the most alarming statistic outlined in the report by the BBC. While scientists are actively studying what is exactly happening, it’s very likely that this is a product of global warming. In June of this year, the temperatures off the west coast of Ireland were between 4C and 5C above average, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classified as a category 5 heatwave, or "beyond extreme".
Ocean Temperatures Rise
This year, the average daily ocean temperatures are the highest they have ever been. This rise in ocean temperatures has an astronomical impact on marine ecosystems, which produce 50% of the world’s oxygen. Prof Schmidt says,
"People tend to think about trees and grasses dying when we talk about heatwaves. The Atlantic is 5C warmer than it should be - that means organisms need 50% more food just to function as normal."
Photo by Cassie Matias on Unsplash
Record Low Antarctic Sea Ice
The final record broken this summer is another alarming sign of global warming. The area covered by sea-ice in the Antarctic is the lowest its ever been this July. With an area nearly 10x larger than the US missing. With the rising ocean temperatures and the rapid depletion of sea ice, scientists are scrambling to understand the exact link to climate change. While it’s expected that climate change would affect things like global temperatures and reduced ice, the speed at which this is occurring this year is alarming, to say the least. Dr. Caroline Holmes at the British Antarctic Survey reminds us that the dramatic reduction could also be due to local weather conditions or ocean currents however, the records aren’t just being broken, we are completely surpassing anything that we’ve ever seen before.
Going Forward
While all of these records and statistics feel alarming and scary, scientists do believe that we still have time to secure a livable future. The coming months will likely break more records and the hope is that scientists will be able to pin-point exactly why we are seeing such extreme jumps this year.
Sources:
Read the original blog post here: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66229065
