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European researchers say a very hot October has put 2023 on a likely path to become the warmest year in recorded history.
Last month, world temperatures beat a 2019 record for warmest October on record by 0.4 degrees, scientists from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced. The EU agency issues monthly reports on climate observations across Europe.
The latest October record nearly guarantees that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess. “The amount that we’re smashing records by is shocking,” Burgess told The Associated Press (AP).
Scientists have long linked rising world temperatures to gases from the burning of fossil fuels. El Niño has also been warming ocean waters this year.
El Niño is a warming of surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. The event usually causes hot, dry weather in Asia and Australia and can drive weather changes in other parts of the world.
The World Meteorological Organization has predicted the El Niño weather pattern will last until at least April 2024.
Michael Mann is a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. He told the AP that most El Niño years now become record-breakers because that climate event combines with rising temperatures linked to human causes.
A warmer planet means more extreme and intense weather events like severe drought or hurricanes that hold more water, said Peter Schlosser. He is vice president of the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. Schlosser was not involved with the Copernicus report.
“We better take this warning that we actually should have taken 50 years ago or more and draw the right conclusions,” Schlosser said. He added that this means the world should expect more records to be broken as a result of that warming. But he questions whether the changes will come in smaller steps going forward.
The World Meteorological Organization has predicted the El Niño weather pattern will last until at least April 2024.
Michael Mann is a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. He told the AP that most El Niño years now become record-breakers because that climate event combines with rising temperatures linked to human causes.
A warmer planet means more extreme and intense weather events like severe drought or hurricanes that hold more water, said Peter Schlosser. He is vice president of the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. Schlosser was not involved with the Copernicus report.
“We better take this warning that we actually should have taken 50 years ago or more and draw the right conclusions,” Schlosser said. He added that this means the world should expect more records to be broken as a result of that warming. But he questions whether the changes will come in smaller steps going forward.
Words in This Story
fossil fuels – n. fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas that are formed in the Earth from dead plants or animals
drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain
draw a conclusion (about something) – phrase to consider the facts of a situation and make a decision about whether it is true, correct, likely to happen, etc.
expensive – adj. costly
*This article has been edited and reprinted from VOA Learning English with permission from Voice of America (VOA) for use in English language materials.
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