Record-Breaking Weather Events in 2023: A Warning Signal for Climate Change
Latest Developments on Earth After COP27 Conference
The shift into an El Niño climate pattern, combined with the worsening effects of climate change, has made 2023 a rollercoaster ride of unstable weather patterns. This trend is expected to intensify in the coming years, and we must not dismiss these extremes as mere headlines but understand them as part of the widespread changes occurring all around us. As the world gears up for COP28, we must acknowledge weather events as an integral part of our warming planet. Here's a recap of the extreme weather events that have made waves this year and the role of the El Niño phenomenon.
Timeline of Extreme Weather Events in 2023:
From scorching heatwaves to devastating cyclones, the world has borne witness to a series of record-breaking weather events in 2023. As our Ocean, a crucial regulator of global climate, faces these extremes, it's vital to recognize the profound effects they bear on our future.
Breaking Temperature Records:
The Northern Hemisphere summer of 2023 marked the hottest on record, with September breaking the mold as the hottest month ever recorded with an average temperature of +0.66°C and +0.93°C warmer than the 1991-2020 baseline respectively. It's no surprise that our Ocean, which absorbs 90% of the excess heat associated with climate change, also suffered from broken temperature records. The unparalleled heat stress caused by August's thermally charged Ocean resulted in a catastrophic coral bleaching event in the Caribbean, sounding the alarm for significant coral mortality.
September 2023 also brought the lowest mean winter sea ice extent ever recorded in the Antarctic, with maximum coverage shockingly 1.03 million km below the previous record low. This worrying trend gives scientists reasons to fear for the long-term implications of these events.
The role of El Niño:
El Niño, a phenomenon characterized by the periodic weakening of trade winds in the Pacific Ocean, is linked to the intensification of extreme weather events globally. During El Niño, warmer water supplies more moisture and thermal energy to the atmosphere. This process fuels intensified rainfall and powerful storm and flooding events. For instance, Cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record, made landfall across Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar, taking more than 1,000 lives and displacing millions.
The Trans-Atlantic Impact of Wildfires:
Wildfire events, driven by rising temperatures, strong winds, and drier conditions, are ramping up in frequency and intensity across the globe. In an astounding turn of events, severe Australian wildfires in 2019-2020 were found to cause abnormal algal blooms in the Southern Ocean, thousands of miles away. Aerosols from the fire, which contain high levels of iron, phosphorous, and other minerals, were transported downwind into the Southern Ocean. These minerals, usually in low supply, acted as a fertiliser and caused abnormal algal bloom events.
Artificial fertilization of the Ocean, triggered by wildfires, can disrupt natural nutrient cycling and marine photosynthesis patterns. Evidence of this was seen in 2023, as massive wildfires in Canada burned all summer long, releasing persistent aerosol pollution over the Atlantic. This contributed to the unusual lilac haze observed in skies across parts of the UK in September 2023.
The Good News:
Amid the chaos, there are glimmers of hope. In 2023, significant milestones have been reached, including the agreement of the High Seas Treaty, improved single-use plastic regulations, and the decision to pause deep-sea mining. These victories symbolize the growing acknowledgment of the importance of our Ocean in decision-making at local, regional, and global scales.
At COP28, we must maintain this momentum to continue safeguarding our Ocean well into 2024 and beyond. Stay updated by following our bite-sized COP updates and Ocean wins on your favorite social media platform.
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[1] NOAA's El Niño 2023-2024 Advisory[2] EPA's Climate Change Indicators - Sea Surface Temperature[3] NASA's Global Climate Change: Vital Signs - Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide[4] WMO's Statement on the State of the Climate in 2023[5] IPCC's Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) 2012
- The ocean, a critical regulator of global climate, is deeply impacted by the consequences of extreme weather events caused by climate change, altering marine ecosystems and increasing the risk of marine life devastation, such as the record-breaking coral bleaching event in the Caribbean.
- In the realm of environmental-science, the connection between the El Niño phenomenon and climate change is becoming increasingly obvious, as intensified weather events globally are linked to the periodic weakening of trade winds in the Pacific Ocean and the subsequent release of warmer water, causing wetter and more powerful storms.
- As politics play a crucial role in addressing climate change, COP28 (Conference of the Parties) offers an opportunity for world leaders to acknowledge the escalating role of climate change in extreme weather events and commit to protecting the vulnerable marine ecosystem and the susceptible marine life, like whales, from pollution and the destructive impacts of these events.
- The general-news coverage of the unfolding climate-change crisis raises the importance of responsible science communication, making sure media outlets do not dismiss extreme weather events as mere sensationalism but present them as immediate warning signs requiring urgent global action against climate change.
- Considering the profound and far-reaching implications of climate change on our planet, it is essential for marine scientists, policymakers, and everyday citizens to unite their efforts and collaborate to combat pollution, protect the environment, and mitigate the effects of climate change on the ocean and marine life, driving positive change in the realm of marine science, environmental-science, and climate-change policy.
