In March 2024, the global average temperature record was shattered for the 10th consecutive month, culminating in 2023 being declared the hottest year since record-keeping commenced. These changes are largely attributable to climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. However, the blistering weather in 2023 puzzled even the most advanced climate simulations.
The global temperatures surpassed their projected figures by approximately 0.2 degrees in that year, despite considering the El Niño weather cycle that generally leads to warmer years. This notable inconsistency could be due to poorly comprehended variables such as a vast volcanic eruption in the Pacific, Saharan dust, or decreased aerosol emissions. Alternatively, it could signal a permanent shift into a perilous new climate state, speculates Gavin Schmidt, a climatologist and the current director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
In this episode of the ‘In the News’ podcast, Schmidt elucidates the peculiar weather phenomena of 2023 and discusses whether it was an outlier or an indicator of a worrisome new status quo. The show is hosted by Bernice Harrison and produced by Declan Conlon.