According to climate data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which goes back 174 years, last month was the hottest August ever recorded. Sea ice extent hit a record low for all Augusts on record. Global sea surface temperatures were the highest for any August on record. The three-month period from June to August was also the hottest ever for that stretch.
Scientists believe there are several reasons why extreme temperature records were set in 2023, including:
- The presence of global marine heat waves
- The El Niño weather pattern
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