VOA科学技术2023--2023 Likely to Be Warmest Year in Recorded History

2023 Likely to Be Warmest Year in Recorded History

European researchers say a very hot October has put 2023 on a likely path to become the warmest year in recorded history.

Last month, world temperatures beat a 2019 record for warmest October on record by 0.4 degrees, scientists from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service announced. The EU agency issues monthly reports on climate observations across Europe.

The latest October record nearly guarantees that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess. "The amount that we're smashing records by is shocking," Burgess told The Associated Press (AP).

Scientists have long linked rising world temperatures to gases from the burning of fossil fuels. El Nino has also been warming ocean waters this year.

El Nino is a warming of surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. The event usually causes hot, dry weather in Asia and Australia and can drive weather changes in other parts of the world.

The World Meteorological Organization has predicted the El Nino weather pattern will last until at least April 2024.

Michael Mann is a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. He told the AP that most El Nino years now become record-breakers because that climate event combines with rising temperatures linked to human causes.

A warmer planet means more extreme and intense weather events like severe drought or hurricanes that hold more water, said Peter Schlosser. He is vice¹ president of the Global Futures² Laboratory at Arizona State University. Schlosser was not involved with the Copernicus report.

"We better take this warning that we actually should have taken 50 years ago or more and draw the right conclusions," Schlosser said. He added that this means the world should expect more records to be broken as a result of that warming. But he questions whether the changes will come in smaller steps going forward.

Schlosser noted³ Earth was already reaching temperatures above the 1.5 degrees Celsius⁴ target limit established by the Paris agreement on climate change. He said the latest observations are another sign there is an urgent need for action to help stop planet-warming pollution.

"It's so much more expensive to keep burning these fossil fuels than it would be to stop doing it. That's basically what it shows," said Friederike Otto. She is a climate scientist at Imperial College London. "And of course, you don't see that when you just look at the records being broken and not at the people and systems that are suffering," Otto said. "But that... is what matters."

The findings from Copernicus come three weeks before a United Nations meeting in the United Arab Emirates capital of Dubai, known as COP28. Delegates from nearly 200 countries will attend the gathering⁵. They are seeking to negotiate stronger action to fight climate change.

Words in This Story

fossil fuels – n. fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas that are formed in the Earth from dead plants or animals

drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

draw a conclusion (about something) – phrase to consider the facts of a situation and make a decision about whether it is true, correct, likely to happen, etc.

expensive – adj. costly

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。