Context:
2023 emerges as the warmest year on record, surpassing the 2016 record, with significant implications for global climate patterns and extreme weather events.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Climate Highlights of 2023:
- Global Temperature Increase:
- In 2023, the global temperature was 1.48°C higher than the average recorded during the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900.
- Frequency of Elevated Temperatures:
- About 50% of the days in 2023 experienced temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C mark compared to the baseline.
- Impactful Consequences:
- The elevated temperatures recorded in 2023 resulted in widespread climatic events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires.
- Marine Heatwaves:
- Various regions witnessed marine heatwaves, notably in the Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, North Pacific, and extensive areas of the North Atlantic.
- El Niño Influence:
- The onset of El Niño in 2023 contributed to the intensification of temperature extremes.
- El Niño, a natural weather phenomenon, involves the warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, contributing to elevated global temperatures.
-Source: Indian Express
