The main purpose of this ongoing blog will be to track planetary extreme, or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to extreme or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials).😉
Main Topic: NCEI Mean Monthly Global Record Temperature Areal Tracker
(Due to a network outage, I could not write Wednesday’s post. I’m combining what I intended to write on Wednesday with Thursday’s latest information linked from Twitter.)
Dear Diary. One learns something new every day. On Wednesday I learned from some associates from the National Center for Environmental Information that a relatively new tool had been implemented by them to track average ratios for all the hundreds of surface records that come into their system on a monthly basis globally.
This appears to be the beginnings of something I have been wanting to scientifically see the last several years…a system that at least gives us a rough guide for how trends with extremes in temperatures have been going, not just on a national, but a global basis, particularly over the last year in which global warming has ramped up while that of the U.S. statistically remained at a near steady or stagnant state the last couple of years. Also, this could be the start of an improved all-encompassing global record temperature archive system, one of the items on my wish list beyond solving the climate crisis, of course. At least an improved surface records system would let many folks with some degree of education and scientific background better see how fast our climate in sinking. Right?
Speaking of that, it’s not too socking to see statistics from July and August 2023 from the new system. Take a gander:
Overview
The mean monthly temperature records product provides historical perspectives on the occurrences of warm or cold mean monthly temperatures across the globe from the gridded (5° latitude by 5° longitude) NOAAGlobalTemp. On a monthly basis, the percentage area of the globe experiencing record warm or record cold conditions is reported as a time series for the month from 1951 to the present, complementing the percentile maps, but choosing a start date with relatively uniform and broad global coverage. In addition, the ratio of warm-to-cold records is plotted as a time series. For example, a ratio value of 2 indicates that the global area experiencing record warm mean monthly temperatures over the most recent month was 2 times larger than the global area experiencing record cold conditions.
July 2023 Global Land and Ocean
During August 2023, 12.63% of the world’s surface had a record-high August temperature — the highest August percentage since the start of records in 1951.
Across the global land, 15.95% of its surface had a record-high August temperature, the second-highest percentage since records began. Only 0.50% of global land surface had a record-cold temperature. Across the global ocean, 11.09% of its surface had a record-high temperature for the month—the highest percentage on record for August—and only 0.18% had a record-cold temperature. Less than 1% (0.28%) of global land and ocean surface experienced a record-cold August temperature.
During July 2023, 9.35% of the world’s surface had a record-high July temperature — the highest July percentage since 1951.
Across the global land, 11.73% of its surface had a record-high July temperature and only 0.01% had a record-cold temperature. Across the global ocean, 8.24% of its surface had a record-high temperature for the month and only 0.10% had a record-cold temperature. Less than 1% (0.07%) of global land and ocean surface experienced a record-cold July temperature.
Methodology
Only grid cells that are completely free of missing values from 1951-present are utilized in the analysis, generally limiting our domain to 45°S to 75°N. For each retained grid cell, the warmest and coldest mean monthly temperatures in the 1951-present period of record are identified for each month. These monthly records are expressed as percent areas aggregated over 3 spatial domains: global land-only areas, global ocean-only areas, and the combined global land and ocean. The spatial aggregation accounts for differences in grid cell size with latitude (i.e., cosine weighting) as well as the fraction of land and ocean areas within coastal grid cells. Monthly ratios are computed by dividing the areal extents experiencing warm records with the areal extents experiencing cold records. For seasonal and annual aggregations, the warm and cold record areal extents are summed separately before dividing the totals.
- Ratio values between 0.8 (five-to-four) and 1.25 (four-to-five) are shown in gray.
- Red circles indicate values above 1.25.
- Blue circles indicate values below 0.8.
- Dark red (dark blue) values represent one of two things:
- A ratio value that is greater than 50 (less than 0.02)
- An observation in which the warm (cold) record area is non-zero and the cold (warm) record area is zero.
- In rare cases, the warm and cold record areas are both zero, in which case the value would be shown as a dark gray circle over unity (i.e., a value of 1).
Citing This Report
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Global Climate Report for July 2023, published online August 2023, retrieved on October 12, 2023 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202307/supplemental/page-3.
This bears repeating: During July 2023, 9.35% of the world’s surface had a record-high July temperature — the highest July percentage since 1951.
This also coincides with the fact that July 2023 was the hottest month every recorded for Earth. I’ll let you know when I see the 2023 statistics.
This also bears repeating: During August 2023, 12.63% of the world’s surface had a record-high August temperature — the highest August percentage since the start of records in 1951.
I’ll let you know when September 2023 data for these datasets is available.
Here are some new “ET’s” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
Historic heat wave in South America:
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
Filadelfia PARAGUAY Extremest TMIN 31.2 TMAX 44.7
HIGHEST OCTOBER MIN. TEMPERATURE IN SOUTH AMERICA HISTORY
BOLIVIA ALL TIME RECORDS
40.5 Trinidad
25.5 Potosi AP 3935m
ARGENTINA
27.5 La Quiaca 3459m monthly record pic.twitter.com/HqIQO6xuR3
Another country broke a monthly national heat record this month: COLOMBIA.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 10, 2023
On 2 October Villavieja rose to 42.0C, which beats the 41.8C set at Guamo in 2013 (Natagaima was unreliable in 2013/2015).
Yesterday also one more record in Guyana:
37.8C Lethem is a monthly record. pic.twitter.com/lPm1If2LWE
[1] Exceptional heat in tropical Americas,RECORDS are being shattered from Mexico to Argentina
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
* National/Territorial Hottest October day on record
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
38.7 Monte Cristi *
38 Puerto Plata
FRENCH GUIANA
38.5 Grand Santi *
HONDURAS
35.2 Puerto Lempira pic.twitter.com/Gw1d1dqFTu
Another exceptionally warm night in Germany and Denmark with Tmins up to 18.2C in Germany and 16.4C in Denmark.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
30 monthly records of highest Tmin were broken in Germany including 16.6C Magdeburg and 16.5C at List auf Sylt.
Details below: https://t.co/U9DOM84Gx3 pic.twitter.com/noV0VJ3nQB
Europe,North Africa and Middle East keep beating records.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
Today the most important monthly records beaten:
FRANCE
29.1 Strasbourg tie
GERMANY
27.8 Geisenheim
26.8 Bad Bergzabern tie
Further East incredible still reaching 45C in Iran at Abadan today. pic.twitter.com/gPG3WepKa3
Dozens of records have fallen so far in this extraordinary heat wave in the Canary Islands, one of the longest in history (for any month, not just for October). See below:
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
Tonight at 2am San Sebastian de la Gomera had 32.8C. The heat is 24/7 in most of the islands since days. https://t.co/HgurbJjp1g
Very hot in Western Australia including nightime.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
Today the Min. temperature at Bidyadanga was 30.5C which is one of the highest Min. temperatures ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere this time of the year.
The heat will just get worse. pic.twitter.com/vOanqNmVEv
Here is some more brand-new September 2023 climatology:
A total of 77 countries around the world have experienced their hottest September on record this year. See the full list below.
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) October 11, 2023
🇦🇬Antigua and Barbuda
🇦🇹Austria
🇧🇭Bahrain
🇧🇧Barbados
🇧🇾Belarus
🇧🇪Belgium
🇧🇹Bhutan
🇧🇴Bolivia
🇧🇷Brazil
🇧🇫Burkina Faso
🇨🇻Cabo Verde
🇨🇦Canada
🇨🇴Colombia… pic.twitter.com/7Czn04tjX8
September temperatures are now out from our Berkeley Earth dataset. Looking at all the Septembers back to 1850 helps highlight just how anomalous this month has been: https://t.co/lzh5i5m1Gm pic.twitter.com/JVdjzJOk4H
— Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath) October 11, 2023
September 2023 in #Argentina was cold in the South and warmer than average in the North.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
Precipitations were above average in the South and Northeast (affected by deluges) and still below average in central areas where the drought persists.
Maps by SMN. https://t.co/0vQzo8k5mJ
September 2023 in #Paraguay was very hot.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
Temperature anomalies were between +2C and +3C above the 1991-2020 normal.
It was drier than average in the West and wetter in the East.
See temperatures and rainfalls anomalies maps by DINAC-DMH. pic.twitter.com/l8RhpTdWVp
September 2023 in #Uruguay had temperature anomalies slightly above average (+0.5C) in most of the country except for some western areas which were slightly cooler.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
See anomalies map by Inumet. pic.twitter.com/Hv1oaVNCOx
September 2023 in #Turkey had an average temperature of 22.4C which is +1.5C above the 1991-2020 normal and was the 6th warmest on record.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) October 11, 2023
2 monthly records of high temperatures fell during the month:
39.1C Luleburgaz
37.4C Kusadasi
Kudos for the data MGM Turkiye pic.twitter.com/NHdQU5aOyj
Some of the largest deviations in temperature in the #Arctic during September 2023 were across the Kara Sea region again…
— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) October 11, 2023
[Data from @CopernicusECMWF ERA5 reanalysis] pic.twitter.com/3nkWibQGNd
What will we do after Termination Shocktober? We have no Idea how people will go on with the failed pandemic, failed climate policy of 1.5°C and ongoing War about the last resources. This is September 1956 compared to 1991-2020 below compared to a 30 Year baseline. We are really… https://t.co/bavoMjXf3R pic.twitter.com/qQlbYj4em6
— Thomas Reis (@peakaustria) October 12, 2023
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) averaged about 419 ppm in September 2023
— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) October 11, 2023
10 years ago September averaged about 394 ppm
+ Preliminary data (@NOAA_ESRL): https://t.co/81JQavZVWZ pic.twitter.com/8Tl7ZO3dpL
October is coming along swimmingly, we'll see if the next few days bring all-time record global temperature anomalies.
— Prof. Eliot Jacobson (@EliotJacobson) October 11, 2023
What a year. What a sad, sad year. pic.twitter.com/6SrGJBaznT
Its not just Canada on fire
— GO GREEN (@ECOWARRIORSS) October 11, 2023
In Indonesia over 267,900 hectares (662,000 acres) since the start of the year, surpassing the area burned during all of 2022
As Indonesia guts its ancient forests for Palm Oil and building a mega city in ancient Borneo jungle https://t.co/nZL0EExmkU
"Increasing CO2 emissions will result in the collapse of the food chain as we know it." https://t.co/NV4ZfBrnub
— Extinction Rebellion Global (@ExtinctionR) October 12, 2023
Meet the new doomer on the block ...
— Prof. Eliot Jacobson (@EliotJacobson) October 11, 2023
“Climate models have likely underpredicted the impact of climate change on the sorts of persistent weather extremes behind the devastating wildfires, floods and heatwaves we’ve seen in recent summers” -- Michael Mannhttps://t.co/zq9neAQJPk
Last month observed highly anomalous temperatures across nearly all of #Antarctica - departures exceeding 5°C above/below the 1981-2010 reference period...
— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) October 12, 2023
[Data from @CopernicusECMWF ERA5 reanalysis at https://t.co/e7aUafgc7S] pic.twitter.com/JvxwGec6HN
WMO State of #Water report shows alarming glacier retreat from #climatechange.
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) October 12, 2023
Summer heat in Switzerland extended into October.
1/3 of this year's ice loss in Swiss Alps was after 5 Sept.
"There's no way to recover for this glacier:" @matthias_huss
🔗https://t.co/yHgf5wP9cE pic.twitter.com/T0Ms3eLMub
Due to unusually low sea ice in the #Arctic and #Antarctic, the size of the global sea ice departure is growing to its most anomalous yet this year...
— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) October 12, 2023
More figures at https://t.co/ecHYax1KfT pic.twitter.com/Zy57isrhj5
Wars are different now in our world of abrupt #climate system change. We simply do not have enough money or material in many places to replace buildings turned to rubble by bombs, floods, landslides, derechos, earthquakes, etc. Organized society collapses. https://t.co/KUQb0Ea4U6
— Paul Beckwith (@PaulHBeckwith) October 11, 2023
I'll be presenting as part of ' A Climate Crisis Discussion' event in New Mills (~20min train from Manchester) on 19 Oct. 6.30pm: https://t.co/lxyzTs2Ubw
— Kevin Anderson (@KevinClimate) October 11, 2023
If we're serious about climate change, we need to escape the stifling 'net zero 2050' nonsense & focus on the next few years!
Today’s News on Sustainable, Traditional Polluting Energy from Fossil Fuel, and the Green Revolution:
Top 10 Planet Wreckers (% pollution from new oil and gas we can't have)
— Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) October 12, 2023
USA 37%
Canada 10%
Russia 9%
Iran 5%
China 5%
Brazil 3%
UAE (and #COP28 host) 3%
Australia 2%
Argentina 2%
Iraq 2%
These countries are making it IMPOSSIBLE to hold warming to 1.5°C#ClimateEmergency #facts pic.twitter.com/0QVGiBzacg
“Global carbon emissions from electric power may peak this year…rapid growth of wind and solar is near rate required if world is to hit 2030 target as part of 1.5C pathway” https://t.co/WgsMx45wfC
— Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) October 11, 2023
LATE NIGHT NEWS: A dozen energy companies and environmental groups have reached a breakthrough deal to work together on building more solar farms, faster, while protecting wildlife habitat and making sure nearby communities benefit. My story for @latimes: https://t.co/tMICtKudEp
— Sammy Roth (@Sammy_Roth) October 12, 2023
Stockholm to ban petrol and diesel cars from centre from 2025 https://t.co/Qt3q8yGRxe
— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) October 11, 2023
#WednesdayAfternoon Reading: "Since the arrival of the high-speed train in 2015, it takes less than two hours to get between Madrid and León and tourism is booming." Spain’s high-speed #trains aren’t just efficient, they have transformed people’s lives https://t.co/UxnedOpsX2
— Silicon Valley North (@CCLSVN) October 11, 2023
Exxon Mobil investing $64.5 billion in buying another fossil fuel driller, in case anyone's still wondering what kind of future the company is planning for. https://t.co/fl2iyNLFX5
— Sammy Roth (@Sammy_Roth) October 12, 2023
Check out @Chevron ‘s bright future in the Indian Ocean ( Western Australia) - big investments.. https://t.co/bMwspeMPXf
— Alia Papageorgiou ✏️ (@Eurocentrique) October 12, 2023
This plant in Dubai is turning seawater into drinking water and it's using the power of the sun to do it.
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) October 11, 2023
We have so many solutions. Implement them. #ActOnClimate#Climate #energy #Solar #renewables #renewableenergy #Sustainability #Water #GreenNewDeal pic.twitter.com/TsajwtXTHA
European banks are worried publishing a ratio of 'green' to fossil lending will make them look bad
— Justin Guay (@Guay_JG) October 11, 2023
No guys, what makes you look bad is being more worried about how you look, than what you're doing to end fossil fuel lending
Regulation or planetary busthttps://t.co/LXPw9clZC2
In case you missed it, last month, @PriceofOil released a new report revealing that just 20 countries, led by the United States, are responsible for 90% of the CO2 pollution from new oil and gas projects planned between 2023-2050. pic.twitter.com/iJKuyHM9J8
— Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative (@fossiltreaty) October 11, 2023
#IPCC's 2022 report shows major transitions are required in the energy sector to limit warming to 1.5°C. Since 2010, the unit costs of solar energy have decreased by up to 85%. A low-carbon energy sector transition will reduce int’l trade in fossil fuels.https://t.co/mIdBKgvWau https://t.co/GP7UazM2gH
— IPCC (@IPCC_CH) October 12, 2023
Students in the #Netherlands built this #solar-powered camper van. It can travel up to 740km a day - while powering a laptop, TV and coffee-maker.
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) October 12, 2023
We have so many solutions. Implement them. #ActOnClimate #ClimateAction #ClimateCrisis #climate #energy #renewables #GreenNewDeal pic.twitter.com/SU9ABC0FUQ
More from the Weather Department:
#ElNiño is on the prowl in the tropical Pacific. How loud do forecasters think it's going to roar? How will the record-warm oceans affect things? Read our latest #ENSO blog for more! https://t.co/pdiGiDjUNv pic.twitter.com/nJpOXmLlUo
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) October 12, 2023
Hurricane Lidia rapidly intensified by 65 mph in the 24 hours before landfall as Mexico’s 3rd strongest Pacific hurricane; at the same time, Typhoon Bolaven was rapidly intensifying by 95 mph in 24 hours. Our Wednesday roundup: https://t.co/BwFSZYP5R8
— Jeff Masters (@DrJeffMasters) October 11, 2023
Lidia's top sustained winds increased more than predicted, and in spectacular fashion—from 70 mph to 140 mph in the 24 hours before it made landfall. A growing body of research is finding links between rapid intensification and human-caused climate change: https://t.co/oXyonpnzYp https://t.co/Ag1WzL7DOW
— Bob Henson (@bhensonweather) October 11, 2023
Category 5 Super Typhoon Bolaven, the strongest storm on Earth, is nearing tropical cyclone perfection.
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) October 11, 2023
The storm has a near perfect circular eye surrounded by deep convection.
The storm currently has 180 mph (290 km/h) sustained winds with gusts to 220 mph (354 km/h), but… pic.twitter.com/RByHEaq4DZ
Here's one more shot of the #tornado in Washington State today.
— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) October 12, 2023
It looks like smoke emanating from a chimney, but there's no chimney.
That's because moisture is being drawn upward, where the twister's low pressure cools/condenses it below the dew point, forming a cloud. https://t.co/2hKtN7iHSs
My "what to watch for" of the day. Predicted wave-2 pattern with ridging across Northern Europe & Alaska with troughing in East Asia & eastern North America is potentially favorable for exciting wave reflection & #polarvortex stretching that could deepen #cold pattern in East US. pic.twitter.com/urLbj0RSEQ
— Judah Cohen (@judah47) October 11, 2023
Wednesday 10:30 pm: Just Because Department: 52 mph gusts at New Orleans Lakefront Airport. This is not a warm cored tropical cyclone…it is characterized by well defined fronts/temperature contrasts: 80’s in southerly winds, 60’s in the north wind and rain north/west of the low. pic.twitter.com/YirSOmJ56K
— Richard Heatwave Berler (@HeatwaveKGNS) October 12, 2023
Caption this! Port a potty door in a street light. Dunedin, Florida. From last nights Tornado warned storm. pic.twitter.com/fUQjI1XKO6
— Mike's Weather Page (@tropicalupdate) October 12, 2023
I count 38 #Tornado warnings. Unusually big outbreak for the Bay Area. A preview of our upcoming El Niño winter! @WFLA pic.twitter.com/a13kCZrSKo
— Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) October 13, 2023
More on the Environment:
Australia’s Federal Court ruled today that the Minister is NOT required under national environment law to consider climate threats from greenhouse gas emissions when assessing new fossil fuel projects.
— Terry Hughes (@ProfTerryHughes) October 11, 2023
See the #GreatBarrierReef soon, before they kill ithttps://t.co/vUt69epA9M
A growing body of research shows that old-growth redwoods store more carbon above ground than any other forest on Earth.
— Yale Environment 360 (@YaleE360) October 12, 2023
But the redwoods have been decimated by logging.
We must restore old-growth redwood forests, John Reid argues a new op-ed.https://t.co/fTdRAeMGoX
Deforestation in Bolivia has jumped by 32% in a year. What is going on? https://t.co/sUQ4syu76w
— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) October 12, 2023
Half a billion cheap electrical items go to UK landfills in a year, research finds https://t.co/skZKtelXKt
— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) October 12, 2023
In 1973, the United States did what no country had done before. It established what amounts to a bill of rights for animals and plants: The Endangered Species Act. It turns 50 this year. And as our planet faces a biodiversity crisis, we're working harder than ever to protect it. pic.twitter.com/x4Hxr1wDTE
— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) October 11, 2023
For the first time in more than a hundred years, members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe are fishing for coho salmon on the free-flowing river. https://t.co/R1Mw1RSIN7
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) October 12, 2023
More on Other Science and the Beauty of Earth and this Universe:
I wrote a short essay: https://t.co/ielzOG5Jvz.
— Rebecca Woodward (@rwclimate) October 11, 2023
None of us can know how much time we have left on Earth. On my last day, whenever that comes, I want to be able to be able to say, "I spoke up for nature & life on Earth. When I felt fear or doubt, I did not let it stop me."