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September 2023 has marked the hottest September ever recorded in data going back to 1940. This alarming heatwave is part of a pattern of record-breaking temperatures observed throughout the year, and it is driving the world towards what is projected to become the warmest year on record, with temperatures expected to be 1.4 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.
Scientists primarily attribute this temperature increase to climate change, but they also acknowledge the influence of natural factors like El Niño and shifts in ocean circulation.
Global Temperature Spike
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the global average surface air temperature in September 2023 reached 16.38 degrees Celsius, representing a significant 0.5-degree Celsius increase compared to the previous September record in 2020.
September 2023 stands out as an extraordinarily warm month, with temperatures approximately 1.75 degrees Celsius higher than the September average for the reference period of 1850-1900, considered a preindustrial benchmark.
Additionally, the global temperature for the January to September 2023 period was 0.52 degrees Celsius above the average, slightly surpassing the same period in 2016, which was the warmest calendar year, by 0.05 degrees Celsius.
In the context of climate change, the global mean temperature for the year up to September 2023 has risen to 1.40 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial average of 1850-1900.
Sea surface temperatures reached new heights in September, with an average temperature between 60°S and 60°N at 20.92 degrees Celsius. This marked the second-highest sea surface temperature ever recorded across all months, behind only August 2023.
Persistent El Niño
El Niño conditions continued to develop in the equatorial eastern Pacific during September.
M. Rajeevan, former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, highlighted the intensification of El Niño, typically leading to additional warming alongside greenhouse gas-induced global warming. This results in unusual temperatures, especially in tropical regions, during El Niño years. Additionally, it is essential to investigate whether greenhouse gases are accelerating the global warming signal. Rajeevan also mentioned the potential impact of multidecadal ocean oscillations, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean.
Urgent Climate Action Needed
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, emphasized the unprecedented nature of September’s temperatures and the urgent need for ambitious climate action, particularly with the upcoming COP28. “The unprecedented temperatures for the time of year observed in September – following a record summer – have broken records by an extraordinary amount,” Burgess, said in a statement, adding, “This extreme month has pushed 2023 into the dubious honour of first place – on track to be the warmest year and around 1.4°C above preindustrial average temperatures. Two months out from COP28 – the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical.”
Professor Hawkins, a climate scientist at Reading University, stressed the significance of these consecutive months of record heat as a preview of the future under ongoing global warming, leading to more frequent extreme weather events like wildfires, floods, and heatwaves. “It’s huge,” Professor Hawkins said, adding, “We shouldn’t be breaking records by this amount.”
Climate change exacerbates flooding by enabling the atmosphere to hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall. It also intensifies natural heatwaves and creates conditions conducive to rapid wildfire spread.
Scientists are also deeply concerned about persistently low sea ice levels in Antarctica, as confirmed by C3S for September. This development raises fears that climate change is now impacting a continent once considered relatively insulated.
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References:
https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-september-2023-unprecedented-temperature-anomalies
