COLUMBIA, S.C. — Data from both NOAA and NASA shows that 2023 was the warmest year in the last 144 years of record.
The average temperature of the earth was 1.4˚C above the early industrial baseline (1881-1910). Years ago, some people dismissive of global warming said that the warming stopped in 1998. Climate scientists knew that was false and said so. The current data shows that the earth has warmed 0.5˚C in the past 25 years. Clearly global warming has not stopped.
The warmest ten years on record have been the last ten years. This year, 2024, is on track to be either the warmest or second warmest on record. What is causing this warming?
If you look at natural causes (i.e., the sun, earth’s orbit, volcanoes, and aerosols), there has not been much change over the past 150 years. Certainly not enough change to account for the warming over that time.
It is only when you add the heat trapping pollution caused by human activity can you account for the warming. This pollution comes primarily from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).
We often feel the heat the most during the summer. Last week was heat safety week in South Carolina. We found that extreme heat can be a threat to the health and safety of everyone.
The number of days exceeding 95˚F+ in Columbia, South Carolina has increased by 16 days a year since 1970. In addition, the nighttime temperatures have been warming faster than the daytime temperatures. The average low temperature during the summer has warmed 4.6˚F in the past 53 years. Thus, there is less relief from the heat at night.
As the heat trapping pollution builds in the atmosphere our climate warms. This warming is having an adverse effect on our health and wellbeing. That is why climate matters.