This article summarises events in 2023 associated with extreme weather linked to climate change.
25 Apr 2023. World’s ice melting five times faster than in the 90s
Polar ice is melting at an unprecedented rate and accounts for a quarter of all sea level rise, researchers say.
“Ice losses from Greenland and Antarctica have rapidly increased over the satellite record and are now a major contributor to sea level rise,” says lead researcher Dr Inès Otosaka from Leeds University, UK.
27 Jul 2023. ‘Like a blowtorch’: Mediterranean on fire as blazes spread across nine countries
Wildfires were burning in at least nine countries across the Mediterranean on Tuesday as blazes spread in Croatia, Italy and Portugal, with thousands of firefighters in Europe and north Africa working to contain flames stoked by high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.
At least 34 people were killed in Algeria, where 8,000 firefighters on Tuesday battled blazes across the tinder-dry north. Fires burned in a total of 15 provinces, leading to the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from their properties.
6 Sep 2023. ‘Smashed’: summer of 2023 the hottest ever recorded
The climate crisis and emerging El Niño event pushed up temperatures and drove extreme weather across the world.
The summer of 2023 was the hottest ever recorded, as the climate crisis and emerging El Niño pushed up temperatures and drove extreme weather across the world.
In June, July and August – the northern hemisphere summer – the global average temperature reached 16.77C, which was 0.66C above the 1991 to 2020 average. The new high is 0.29C above the previous record set in 2019, a big jump in climate terms.
Heatwaves, fires and floods have destroyed lives and livelihoods across the globe, from North and South America, to Europe, India, Japan and China.
24 Sep 2023. Scientists found the most intense heat wave ever recorded – in Antarctica
In March 2022, temperatures near the eastern coast of Antarctica spiked at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) above normal — making it the most intense recorded heat wave to occur anywhere on Earth, according to a recent study.
28 Sep 2023. Swiss glaciers lose 10% of their volume in two years
Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their volume in just two years, a report has found.
Scientists have said climate breakdown caused by the burning of fossil fuels is the cause of unusually hot summers and winters with very low snow volume, which have caused the accelerating melts. The volume lost during the hot summers of 2022 and 2023 is the same as that lost between 1960 and 1990.
29 Sep 2023. Record rainfall in New York causes extensive flooding
September 29th, 2023, will be etched in New York City’s history as the day the skies opened with an unparalleled ferocity. JFK Airport recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall since 1948, with an astonishing 8 inches pouring down.
Brooklyn faced nature’s fury head-on, as three hours of ceaseless rain equalled an entire month’s average downpour.
Water closed the subway, filled basements, stranded vehicles, and made roads impassable. bringing New York to a standstill.
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