NOAA and other organizations have now completed their analysis of the global climate for 2023. Every one of them shows that 2023 was the warmest year in record (since records began in 1880) by quite a bit. This is due to the strong El Nino, the rapidly warming Arctic, and the record-setting warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic this year. Depending on how quickly the El Nino wanes and goes back to neutral conditions, 2024 could be even warmer. I read this week that Atlantic Ocean temperatures right now are at July levels, which just blows my mind.
You can read more at https://www.noaa.gov/news/2023-was-worlds-warmest-year-on-record-by-far and see statistics at https://www.noaa.gov/news/2023-was-worlds-warmest-year-on-record-by-far. There are also good stories at EarthSky at https://earthsky.org/earth/2023-was-the-hottest-year-on-record-warming-el-nino/ and BBC at https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67861954 and the New York Times at 2023 Was Hottest Year on Record by a Lot – The New York Times (nytimes.com).
