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.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed internal turmoil within the Liberal Party after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on December 17, fueling calls for his departure.
A SpaceX power outage disrupted mission control during a historic private spacewalk, raising concerns over safety, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest.
Honda and Nissan are exploring deeper collaboration, including a potential merger, to address growing competition from Tesla and Chinese EV makers. The move could create the world's third-largest automaker, reshaping Japan's automotive industry.
The French overseas territory of Mayotte is grappling with widespread destruction in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, described as the strongest storm to hit the archipelago in over 90 years. Striking over the weekend, the cyclone raised concerns about disaster preparedness and response efforts.
The UN has called for an inclusive political transition in Syria, stressing that progress in this area is critical for securing the economic aid needed to rebuild the war-torn country. UN special envoy Geir Pedersen emphasized that inclusive political transition in Syria is crucial.
Negotiations at COP29 in Baku face a critical impasse as sharp divisions over climate finance and fossil fuel commitments threaten progress.
"Come up with the video in its full form," demands the COP29 CEO, Elnur Soltanov, in an exclusive interview with AnewZ. The chief executive has broken his silence on the claims he was using his position to organise potential fossil fuel deals.
Venezuela launches underwater coral farms in a groundbreaking effort to combat climate change and restore marine ecosystems affected by global warming, acidification, and disease.
Japan aims to boost renewable energy to 40-50% of its electricity supply by 2040, alongside a 20% contribution from nuclear power, as part of a strategic push to meet rising energy demand sustainably.
New Delhi has once again been engulfed by dangerous levels of pollution, prompting authorities to impose stricter measures to protect public health. With the air quality index soaring above 400, the city is now facing a severe environmental crisis.
The EU rejects calls to weaken car CO2 rules, emphasizing climate goals despite automaker pressures and EPP's push for relief on 2025 emission limits.
Rising global temperatures are set to make 2024 the warmest year on record, exceeding the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels. With no cooling La Niña event, experts warn that this acceleration in warming underscores the urgent need for global action on emissions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed internal turmoil within the Liberal Party after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on December 17, fueling calls for his departure.
A SpaceX power outage disrupted mission control during a historic private spacewalk, raising concerns over safety, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest.
Honda and Nissan are exploring deeper collaboration, including a potential merger, to address growing competition from Tesla and Chinese EV makers. The move could create the world's third-largest automaker, reshaping Japan's automotive industry.
The French overseas territory of Mayotte is grappling with widespread destruction in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, described as the strongest storm to hit the archipelago in over 90 years. Striking over the weekend, the cyclone raised concerns about disaster preparedness and response efforts.
The UN has called for an inclusive political transition in Syria, stressing that progress in this area is critical for securing the economic aid needed to rebuild the war-torn country. UN special envoy Geir Pedersen emphasized that inclusive political transition in Syria is crucial.
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