1.Storm Daniel in the Mediterranean triggered heavy losses in Libya

In the summer of 2023, many countries in Europe experienced repeatedhigh temperatures, with Italy, Greece, France, Algeria and other countries reporting new records for daytime and nighttime maximum temperatures. Storm Daniel caused casualties in a few countries.

Satellite monitoring of Storm Daniel (FENGYUN-3D)

2.Drought continuedin Brazil, with the water levels of Amazon River tributaries reaching record lows

From July to September, the Brazilian Amazon basin continued to receive low precipitation, with the lowest cumulative rainfallregistered in the same period since 1980. The water level of Rio Negro, the second largest tributary, fell to 13.59 meters on October 16,2023, which was the lowest record since 1902.

Widespread low precipitation in South America from July to September, 2023

3.‘The era of "global boiling" has arrived, and the average temperature of the Earth has reached a new high’

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the annual average global temperature in 2023 was 1.45 ± 0.12°C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), making 2023 the warmest year on record. New monthly records were set for global temperatures in each month from June to December, with July and August being the two hottest months on record.

4.Northwestern Australia was hit bya "once-in-a-century" flood

In early January or the middle of summer in Australia, Tropical Cyclone Ellie caused heavy rainfall in Western Australia, inundating many areas as a"once-in-a-century" flood.

5.Super cold wave struck USA with nighttime wind chill temperatures as low as -78C

In early February, apolar cold wave swept across North America, and the average weekly temperature in central Canada and the northern USA was more than 4°C lower than normal. Affected by the southward polar cold wave, the Mount Washington Observatoryin USA recorded a nighttime wind chill temperature as low as -78 ℃, the lowest in the States.

6.South Americahad a summer-like winter, with a maximum temperature of over 37°C

In mid-July or the middle of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, parts of Brazil experienced unusually high temperatures in excess of 37℃, setting a record for the maximum temperatureof the month in the country. The winter of August felt like summer in parts of South America.

7.Freddy has become the world's longest-lived tropical cyclone

On March 13, 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy weakened into atropical depression, ending its 35-day lifespan with a trajectory of 12,000-km, which set such records as the longest duration and the highest cumulative cyclone energy index in the Southern Hemisphere.

8.Wildfires caused heavy casualties in Maui, Hawaii, USA

On August 8, a severe wildfire broke out on Maui, Hawaii, USA,to destroymuch of the island, making it the deadliest wildfire event in USA in a century. Canada suffered more than 6,500 fires in a spell offive months in 2023, which was more than six times the 10-year average (2013-2022).

Maui wildfire monitoring on August 10, 2023 (FENGYUN-3D)

9.El Niño stirredup global climate to amplify extreme weather

Since May 2023, the sea temperature in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean has continued to bewarm, contributing to the development of a moderately strong El Niño event, which is expected to last until the spring of 2024.

Distribution of global sea surface temperature anomalies in December, 2023

10.Solar storms occurred frequently to have intense auroras seen in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere

2023 was characterized by frequent solar activity, with 11 major flares erupting to cause seven geomagnetic storms. As a result, auroras were observed in many places around the world. In Beijing, a region with relatively low geomagnetic latitudes, auroras were also observed during a magnetic storm in early December.

Source: National Climate Centre (NCC)

Editor: JIANG Zhiqing