This year 'virtually certain' to be hottest ever, scientists warn
According to data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, known as 3CS, the average surface air temperature of 15.30C across the globe was 0.85C above the 1991-2020 average for October, and 0.40C above the previous warmest October in 2019.
This year is now "virtually certain" to be the hottest ever after the latest "obliteration" of records, after October became the warmest such month ever by a significant margin.
According to data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, known as 3CS, the average surface air temperature of 15.30C across the globe was 0.85C above the 1991-2020 average for October, and 0.40C above the previous warmest October in 2019.
It is the latest in a year of shattered records for temperature spikes, with the world's hottest ever recorded day broken repeatedly in the summer.
Deputy director of C3S, Samantha Burgess, said the upcoming UN-backed climate change summit in Dubai, Cop28, is now crucial.
"October 2023 has seen exceptional temperature anomalies, following on from four months of global temperature records being obliterated. We can say with near certainty that 2023 will be the warmest year on record, and is currently 1.43C above the preindustrial average. The sense of urgency for ambitious climate action going into Cop28 has never been higher."
C3S said from January to October, the global mean temperature for 2023 is the highest on record, 1.43°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average, and 0.10C higher than the 10-month average for 2016, which currently holds the record for the hottest ever year.
According to the landmark Paris Agreement of 2015, a 1.5C rise in temperatures was set as the limit for the rise globally compared to 1850-1900, in order to stave off the very worst fallout from climate change.
The Paris Agreement has led to a number of deals struck between governments across the world at Cop events in the years since to reduce emissions, but a struggle to turn such agreements into meaningful action in the aftermath.
This year's Cop28 event is in Dubai, with its host attracting criticism for his ties to fossil fuel.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and climate envoy is Sultan al-Jaber, head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), the 12th largest oil-producing firm in the world.
Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned the ongoing El Niño event is expected to last at least until April 2024, influencing weather patterns and contributing to a further spike in temperatures both on land and in the ocean.
El Niño refers to the warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, affecting the rest of the world when it happens.
The phenomenon returned this year after the third winter of the La Niña water cooling phenomenon, in a highly unusual "triple dip" situation.
The El Niño developed rapidly during July-August, and reached moderate strength by September, 2023 and is likely to peak as a strong event this month until January, according to the WMO.
There is a 90% likelihood it will persist throughout the upcoming northern hemisphere winter/southern hemisphere summer, it said.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are. Rainfall and temperature charts are also available.
