Shruti Suman
According to NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt, July 2023 is likely to become the hottest month in “hundreds, if not thousands, of years.” The month has already been breaking daily temperature records, as observed through data from the European Union and the University of Maine, which analyze ground and satellite information to generate preliminary estimates.
Although there might be slight variations in their findings, the trend of extreme heat is evident and is expected to be confirmed in more comprehensive monthly reports from US agencies, as stated by Schmidt during a NASA briefing with reporters.
The world is currently witnessing unprecedented changes, with heatwaves in the US, Europe, and China setting new records. While the El Nino weather pattern may play a small part in these events, Schmidt emphasizes that the overall warming is widespread, especially in the oceans, where record-breaking sea surface temperatures have been observed even outside the tropics for several months.
The increase in greenhouse gas emissions is a significant factor contributing to these changes. The ongoing situation raises the likelihood of 2023 becoming the hottest year on record, with Schmidt estimating a “50-50 chance” based on his calculations, though other scientists have suggested it could be as high as 80%.
Looking ahead, 2024 is anticipated to be even warmer due to the emerging El Nino event, which is expected to peak towards the end of the current year.
Schmidt’s warnings come at a time when the world is experiencing wildfires, health warnings, and broken temperature records in the past week.
