Copernicus: 2023 to be the Warmest Year in History

The year 2023 is projected to be the warmest on record, as announced by the European Copernicus Climate Change Service. November marks the sixth consecutive month in which temperature records have been broken. With an average global temperature of 14.22°C, November 2023 surpasses the previous record set in November 2020 by 0.32°C. The month was 1.75°C warmer than the November average from the period 1850-1900, corresponding to the pre-industrial era. The autumn season (September-November in the Northern Hemisphere) is now the warmest on record, registering 15.30°C, a "wide margin" of 0.88°C above the average.

"2023 now has six months and two seasons that have exceeded records. This extraordinary November, including two days with temperatures 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, means that 2023 is the warmest year ever recorded in history," stated Samantha Burgess, Deputy Head of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), in a press release.

Since January, the average temperature has been the warmest ever measured in the first eleven months of the year: 1.46°C above the climatic average from 1850-1900 and 0.13°C above the first eleven months of 2016, the previous warmest year.

"As long as greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, we cannot expect different results from those observed this year. Temperatures will continue to rise, as will the effects of heatwaves and drought," warned Carlo Buontempo, Director of C3S, as quoted in the statement.

The cyclical meteorological phenomenon El Niño above the Pacific will continue to fuel temperature increases in 2023, but it has not yet reached its peak. In November 2023, the sea surface temperature is also the warmest for this time of year, exceeding the previous peak in November 2015 by 0.25°C. This new heat record adds to those already surpassed each month since April.

The extent of Arctic sea ice, in the north, recorded the 8th monthly minimum for November, 4% below average. In Antarctica, the second minimum for a November month was recorded, 9% below average, according to Copernicus. Drought persisted last month in several regions of the United States, Central and East Asia, and was particularly pronounced in South America. In contrast, Europe experienced more rainfall following Storm Ciaran, which caused heavy precipitation.