Study: Last Summer Was the Hottest in 2K Years

Facts

• According to a study published in Nature on Tuesday, the summer of 2023 was the hottest in 2K years in the extra-tropical regions of the northern hemisphere.¹
• Using tree-ring data, researchers estimate that the hemisphere was at least 0.5°C hotter than the warmest summer in AD246 and nearly 4°C above the coldest summer in 2K years.²
• Greenhouse gases and an El Niño weather pattern reportedly pushed land temperatures to as much as 2.2°C higher than a millennia ago.³
• The study focused on the northern hemisphere's non-tropical regions, but researchers warn the 'unparalleled' scale of the temperature rise could have global implications.⁴
• Previously, scientists with the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service had suggested that last year was 'very likely' the warmest in 100K years.⁵

Sources: ¹ABC News, ²Independent, ³Nature, ⁴NHM and ⁵reuters.com.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Washington Post. Unsurprisingly, 2023 witnessed extreme weather events, including wildfires, ocean heat waves, and unprecedented temperature anomalies. Global warming could lead to ecological and societal collapse without nations rapidly transitioning from fossil fuels and achieving net-zero emissions.
• Narrative B, as provided by National Review. The UN has cautioned against too much pessimism on the climate front and forecast less severe global warming than previously predicted, indicating that temperatures could fall short of worst-case scenarios. The world must invest in technologies and infrastructure to withstand climate impacts.

Predictions