2023 summer was the hottest summer on record since 1880, NASA confirms
NASA. The scorching heat waves experienced in North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions are attributed to human-induced global warming, compounded by the recurring climate phenomenon known as El Niño.
NASA's analysis reveals that August 2023 was exceptionally hot, with temperatures 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) above the average for summer. This extreme heatwave affected a staggering 57 million people in the southern and southwestern United States, reaching the highest category of severity.
When considering the combined temperatures for June, July, and August, they were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.23 degrees Celsius) warmer than all previous summers. This alarming increase underscores the growing impact of global warming on the climate. In fact, NASA scientists confirmed that July 2023 was the hottest July on record, with the last five hottest Julys occurring within the past five years.
Devastating Consequences
The blistering July heat played a direct role in the deadliest wildfire season ever recorded in both Canada and Hawaii. It also contributed to severe rainfall and flash floods across the Mediterranean, including Greece and Italy. These extreme events have brought widespread devastation and underscore the urgency of addressing climate change.
El Niño's Influence
One contributing factor to this year's record heat is the return of El Niño. This climate pattern, occurring every two to seven years, disrupts the usual westward winds above the Pacific Ocean and results in warmer conditions in Canada and the U.S. West Coast. Exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, driven in part by El Niño, played a significant role in the summer's record warmth, according to NASA's climate scientist and
