The year 2023 has been adjudged as the hottest year since the time of record-keeping began. Earth’s average land and ocean surface temperature in 2023 was 2.12°F ( 1.18°C) above the 20th century. It beats the erstwhile warmest year 2016 by 0.15°C. The rise in temperature has exceeded by 1.35°C, over the average of the pre-industrial era. The last eight months in a row have exceeded the recorded global warmth. December 2023 was the warmest December on record. The global surface temperature was 1.43°C above the 20th-century average.
The ten warmest years, since 1950, have all occurred in the past decade. The year 2024 also, has started on a warm note. January 2024 has been the warmest January on record. Despite the triple dip La Nina between 2020 and 2022, this triplet also figures in the list of ten warmest years. It means, that human-induced climate change neutralized the Pacific Ocean cooling on account of La Nina and still emerged winner. It could be, that the other oceans around the globe were warmer than normal. Be aware that, 90% of excess heat on the planet comes from the oceans. Ocean heat content stored in the upper 2000 meters was the highest on record in 2023. The Arctic ice content was the lowest and led to insufficient cooling in the polar region.
The earth’s tropical surface and troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere receive a major portion of the planet’s incoming solar energy. Most of the warming takes place in the middle layers of the atmosphere. The ozone layer, which sits in the stratosphere between 15 and 30 km above the surface of the earth plays a dominant role in the warming of the stratosphere. Ozone holes with dimensions of millions of square Kilometers, more prominently seen over the Southern Hemisphere (Antarctic region) are directly linked with the stratospheric temperatures. The continuity of the Ozone layer, otherwise, shields us and other living things from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiations. Ozone layer depletion could have serious effects on human health, the environment and the warming. The Ozone hole of 2023 had been larger compared to 2022.
El Nino conditions are likely to build up, coinciding with the likely arrival of southwest monsoon. This will add to the heat potential of the Pacific Ocean and overall warming. Fingers crossed for the likely status of 2024 in terms of warmest years on record. Could even run parallel to 2023 or exceed as well.
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