2023: The hottest summer since the Roman Empire, scientists confirm
Last year's summer in the Northern Hemisphere was the hottest on record. It's important to note these records date back to the mid-19th century. The summer months of 2023 were the warmest since records began! Scientists have reached this conclusion by analyzing tree rings, finding it was even warmer than during the Roman Empire.
There is a consensus among scientists that the Earth's temperature has been gradually increasing. Since the Industrial Revolution, the average global temperature has risen by about 1 degree Celsius. Some climate change skeptics point out that temperature measurements only began in 1850, making it challenging to draw extensive conclusions. However, despite the relatively brief history of temperature recordings, scientists have discovered methods to uncover temperature data going back to the start of our era.
One such method involves studying trees, particularly by examining the annual growth of their rings. In a study published in the "Nature" journal, scientists from Germany and the UK have highlighted that dendrochronological findings can provide detailed insights into the temperatures and humidity levels during various periods.
Research conducted by scientists from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany has shown that the summer of 2023 stood apart. As National Geographic reported, it was "the hottest summer since the Roman Empire."
When you look at the long sweep of history, you can see just how dramatic recent global warming is. 2023 was an exceptionally hot year, and this trend will continue unless we reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically — notes Prof. Ulf Büntgen from the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge, a co-author of the study.
Instrument errors versus undeniable tree data
While the accuracy of 19th-century measuring devices can be questioned, data from dendrochronological analysis proves to be highly precise. Trees have a specific way of reacting to different environmental conditions.
Scientific analyses have revealed that there have been two little ice ages in the last 2,000 years. The first happened around the 6th century BC, and the second at the beginning of the 19th century followed sulfur-rich volcanic eruptions. The eruption preceding the first ice age resulted in the coldest summer of our era in 536 AD, with temperatures about 4 degrees Celsius lower than in the summer of 2023.
Assessing average temperatures over the past 2,000 years reveals that last year's summer months were 2.2 degrees Celsius warmer than the corresponding period's average from the 1st century to the end of the 19th century. In their article, scientists caution that this summer might see new temperature records, posing an exceptionally high risk for all of us.
