Globally, August 2023 was record-shatteringly warm.
The global average was recorded as 1.68 ± 0.09 °C (3.02 ± 0.16 °F) above the 1850 to 1900 baseline.
This beats the previous record, from August 2016, by 0.31 °C (0.56 °F).
2/
Above average temperatures were widespread in August, with the exception of Antarctica, which saw quite cold conditions in part.
The El Niño, which began in June, continues to strengthen in the equatorial Pacific
3/
During August, record warmth was particularly prominent in the tropics, as well parts of the Pacific and the North Atlantic.
13% of the Earth's surface was locally record warm in August, and 65 countries (mostly in the tropics) set new national-average records for August.
4/
When compared to all other months, the monthly temperature anomaly observed in August 2023 effectively tied February and March 2016 as the largest on record.
5/
El Niño has continued to strengthen, and is projected to continue well into 2024, which will boost global average temperatures somewhat.
Models remain divided on whether to ultimately expect a moderate, strong, or very strong El Niño.
With the strengthening El Niño and June, July, and August all setting new monthly records by large margins, it has become nearly certain that the annual average for 2023 will set a new record high for the instrumental period (>99% likelihood).
7/
The recent extreme conditions have led to another upward revision to our forecast for 2023.
In addition to 2023 almost certainly becoming the warmest directly measured year, we now estimate roughly even odds that 2023 is at least 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above the 1850-1900 baseline.
8/
This current period of record warmth is driven by a combination of man-made & natural factors.
The most significant of these are man-made global warming, due to accumulating greenhouse gases, and the natural variability associated with the transition from La Niña to El Niño.
9/
For more information on temperature patterns during August 2023, please see our monthly temperature report:
2024 was the hottest year since instrumental measurements began.
3.3 billion people had their locally warmest year.
The warming rate appears to have increased, likely due to reductions in man-made aerosol pollution and cloud cover.
🧵
Berkeley Earth's estimate of the global mean temperature in 2024 stands at 1.62 ± 0.06 °C (2.91 ± 0.11 °F) above the average during the period 1850 to 1900.
This is our second year above 1.5 °C and the first above 1.6 °C.
2/
The first six months of 2024 started with record warmth, in part due to the 2023/2024 El Niño event which ended in June 2024.
While the back half of 2024 was mostly cooler than the 2023 records, temperatures never really dropped the way we usually expect after an El Niño.
Note: This temperature update was a few weeks delayed, so we are talking about August 2024 now even though it is already October.
2/
Relative to July, global average temperatures in August 2024 unexpectedly ticked up.
The last 15 months have each set or tied their corresponding monthly average temperature record, with the last 14 monthly at least 1.5 °C above the 1850-1900 average.
Every month since June 2023 — 14 consecutive months — have each either set a new monthly global average temperature record or tied the record.
Often new records occurred by large margins. The last 13 months are all at least 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above the 1850-1900 average.
2/
The long run of monthly global average temperature records has pushed the Earth's 12-month moving average temperature to 1.67 ± 0.07 °C (3.01 ± 0.13 °F) above the 1850-1900 baseline.
Boosted by El Niño, global warming, and other factors, each of the last 13 months have set new monthly global temperature records.
In addition, the last 12 months were each at least 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) warmer than Berkeley Earth's 1850-1900 baseline.
2/
This brings the 12-month moving average of Earth's global temperature to a record high of +1.68 °C (+3.02 °F) above the 1850-1900 baseline, far surpassing previous short-term warmign events.
In addition, the long-term trend line has recently passed 1.4 °C (2.5 °F).
April 2024 was 1.67 ± 0.11 °C (3.01 ± 0.19 °F) above the 1850 to 1900 average.
This continues the 11-month streak of record monthly averages, and 10-month streak of averages at least 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above the 1850-1900 average.
2/
Following 11 months of record warmth, our 12-month moving average of global temperatures has now reached 1.65 ± 0.07 °C (2.97 ± 0.13 °F) above the 1850 to 1900 average.
This deviation above the long-term global warming trend is similar to previous spikes, e.g. 1998 & 2016.
17% of the Earth's surface experienced a locally record high annual average temperature in 2023.
Local record annual averages impacted an estimated 2.3 billion people — 29% of the global population — including many population centers in Eastern Asia, South & Central America.
2/
In our estimation, 77 countries set new national records for their annual average, including China, Japan, Bangladesh, Germany, Ukraine, Mexico and Brazil.
This chart shows national average temperature anomalies in 2023, with new records indicated by black circles.