2023 defied climate expectations. It wasn’t just hotter than predicted — it was strangely hot. Now, scientists are piecing together what caused this anomaly, raising fresh concerns about Earth’s climate systems.
Gavin Schmidt, NASA’s top climate modeller at the Goddard Institute for Space Science, admitted to feeling “humbled” by 2023’s extraordinary temperatures. Writing in Nature earlier this year, Schmidt noted that the year was warmer than models anticipated. The deviation, unexplained at first, sparked worries that climate change is entering uncharted territory.
At December’s American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting, the world's largest Earth science conference, experts revisited the mystery. Like detectives solving a case, scientists meticulously ruled out some “suspects” while identifying others.
Key Suspects Behind the Heat Surge
El Niño
The natural El Niño event, which warms the tropical Pacific, began in 2023, contributing to global temperatures. Yet the warming exceeded even El Niño’s usual influence, raising eyebrows.
Cleaner Air from Shipping
New rules to reduce sulphur in ship fuel have lowered pollution levels. However, cleaner air allows more sunlight to reach the ocean surface, which adds to global warming.
Volcano and Solar Activity
The Hunga Tonga eruption in 2022 injected water vapour into the atmosphere but also sulphates, which slightly cooled the Earth. Meanwhile, the Sun reached its peak activity cycle, contributing minimal extra heat.
Cloud Cover Changes
Research by Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute found Earth reflected less sunlight in 2023 — its dimmest year yet. Reduced cloud cover, particularly over northern mid-latitudes, amplified warming. Cleaner air may have played a role, alongside long-term climate shifts that are altering cloud patterns.
The Bigger Picture
Global warming is accelerating. Some scientists argue that the drop in sulphur emissions is now speeding up heating, while changing cloud dynamics add to the uncertainty.
What’s Next
GISS modellers are now combining the latest data on sulphur emissions, cloud dynamics, and sunlight reflectivity into updated climate simulations. Schmidt expects these runs to clarify the contributions of various factors and potentially reshape projections for Earth’s future.
The findings are clear: warming is unlikely to slow any time soon.
Spanish scientists have discovered massive methane emissions from the Antarctic seabed, a potent greenhouse gas that could accelerate global warming, highlighting the environmental risks of thawing ice sheets and trapped methane hydrates.
China is facing devastating temperature rise in the coastal waters.
Global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024 for the first time, driven by record emissions and extreme weather patterns, highlighting the urgent need for decisive climate action.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has confirmed 2024 as the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The milestone, driven by human-caused climate change, signals a significant shift in global temperature trends.
2024 is set to be the hottest year ever recorded, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Extreme weather events, linked to human-induced climate change, have wreaked havoc worldwide, as CO2 emissions hit record highs despite global green pledges.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
USAID has long promoted itself as a supporter of press freedom, but reports suggest its media funding may have influenced domestic narratives in Europe and post-Soviet states. With the Trump administration freezing its grants, the agency’s role in shaping global information is under scrutiny.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
Greece is struggling with severe water shortages as climate change intensifies droughts and aging infrastructure leaks nearly half of its drinking water. The crisis threatens agriculture, public health, and daily life.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has approved an agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on strategic partnership in the development and transmission of green energy.
Masdar, TotalEnergies and EPointZero, the decarbonisation division of 2PointZero, have signed a Framework for Action (FFA) agreement to expand clean energy access across Africa and Asia.
Stockholm, Sweden, February 19, 2025 – Sweden’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a class action lawsuit, initiated by climate activist Greta Thunberg and 299 other plaintiffs, cannot proceed in its current form.
Over 150 false killer whales have been stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania, Australia. Rescue teams are working to save the surviving dolphins, while the cause of the stranding remains under investigation.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
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