Scientists are warning that 2023 could be the hottest year on record globally and that the climate crisis could be altering our weather in ways they don’t yet understand.

 The year 2023 may bring unprecedented heat to the planet, according to a new study by a team of international researchers. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, predicts that the global average temperature could rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the previous record set in 2016.

The researchers used a combination of climate models and observations to project the future temperature trends, taking into account natural variability and human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. They found that the likelihood of a record-breaking year in 2023 is more than 50%, and that the probability increases with each subsequent year.

The study also warns that the climate crisis may be affecting the weather patterns in ways that are not fully understood by science. For example, the researchers observed that the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, which influence the global climate by altering the ocean and atmospheric circulation, have become more frequent and intense in recent decades. They suggest that this could be a sign of a tipping point in the Earth system, where small changes can trigger large and irreversible consequences.

The authors of the study urge policymakers and the public to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. They say that avoiding the worst-case scenarios requires a rapid and ambitious transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as enhanced cooperation and solidarity among nations.