September 2023 has been recorded as the second-warmest September globally, indicating that the year is on track to potentially become the hottest on record. The extreme weather occurrences observed, including heavy rainfall and storms, are exacerbated by rising global temperatures due to climate change. This trend highlights the urgency for action as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, increasing risks of extreme weather events.
PARIS (AFP) – According to the EU climate monitor Copernicus, September 2023 has been recorded as the second-warmest September globally, setting the stage for a year that is “almost certain” to emerge as the hottest on record. This comes amid extreme weather conditions characterized by heavy rainfall and severe storms, which are becoming increasingly common due to the ongoing consequences of climate change. The analysis conducted by Copernicus, which relies on extensive data from satellites, weather stations, ships, and aircraft, indicates that the average global temperature for September 2023 only ranks below that of September 2024. Last year marked the hottest on record, and current trends suggest that 2024 may soon surpass this benchmark. The implications of rising global temperatures extend beyond increases in temperature; they manifest in heightened atmospheric and oceanic heat retention, resulting in increased water vapor and subsequent rainfall variations. This change has led to notable instances of extreme rainfall, with some regions experiencing several months’ worth of precipitation within a mere few days. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, highlighted, “The extreme rainfall events of this month, something we are observing more and more often, have been made worse by a warmer atmosphere. The risk of extreme rainfall will continue to increase with rising temperatures.” The month also bore witness to significant weather events, including Hurricane Helene affecting the southeastern United States, Typhoon Krathon impacting Taiwan, and Storm Boris devastating parts of central Europe. In addition, Typhoons Yagi and Bebinca caused widespread damage in Asia, while severe flooding plagued Nepal, Japan, and various regions in Africa. Copernicus also reported above-average rainfall in areas such as parts of Africa, Russia, China, Australia, and Brazil, with Pakistan particularly severely impacted by monsoon conditions. From January to September 2024, new temperature records have already been established, further solidifying the prediction that 2024 will likely be the warmest year documented. Alarmingly, fourteen of the past fifteen months have shown temperature increases of at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, defined from 1850 to 1900. Despite these alarming figures, the fluctuations do not breach the Paris climate agreement goals, which aim to maintain global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and, ideally, at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius; however, the significant risks of surpassing this threshold are evident as global emissions steadily rise, a trend that contradicts the urgent necessity for a substantial reduction by nearly fifty percent within this decade. Copernicus’s monitoring efforts, starting in 1940, are supported by additional climate data sources, such as ice cores and tree rings, extending their analyses further back into Earth’s climatic history. Climate scientists caution that the contemporary period is possibly the warmest experienced on Earth in approximately 100,000 years, dating back to the onset of the last Ice Age.
The article discusses the alarming implications of climate change as reflected in the recent findings from the EU climate monitor Copernicus. It underscores not only the unprecedented temperatures but also the associated extreme weather events that are escalating in severity due to global warming. This enhances the understanding of the broader impacts of climate change on global weather patterns and ecological stability, marking September 2023 as a significant indicator of these trends.
In summary, the findings from Copernicus reveal September 2023 as a pivotal month in the context of global climate patterns, with record temperatures and extreme weather events that stress the urgent need for effective climate action. The evidence presented suggests a concerning trajectory for global temperatures moving into 2024, further highlighting the critical risks posed by climate change and the imperative for immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
