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On November 17, 2023, Earth experienced a pivotal moment, surpassing a global temperature exceeding 2°C above pre-industrial levels. As measured by the ERA5 data, underlines the urgency of addressing climate change, especially with COP28 approaching.The recorded global surface air temperature on November 17 reached 2.07°C above the pre-industrial average, calculated based on the period 1850-1900 before widespread fossil fuel use. Preliminary data for November 18 also indicates a temperature anomaly, registering at 2.06°C above pre-industrial levels.
The ERA5 record indicates that Earth experienced two days with global temperatures surpassing the pre-industrial level by more than 2°C. This occurrence in the same month as COP28 emphasizes the urgent need for decisive action against climate change, as world leaders assess progress toward Paris Agreement commitments.Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Director Carlo Buontempo highlighted that while exceeding the 2°C threshold for a few days doesn’t breach Paris Agreement targets, the cumulative effects of such breaches intensify with their frequency, underscoring the critical importance of addressing climate change promptly.
The ERA5 data highlights that on November 17, the global surface air temperature exceeded the 1991-2020 average by 1.17°C. These remarkable anomalies suggest that November 2023 is on track to become the warmest November on record. The preliminary ERA5 global surface air temperature data, released under ERA5T, undergo verification before the final release of the ERA5 dataset. This final release occurs after a standard 2-3 month quality control period following the pre-release with a latency of up to 5 days.
