News2023 summer shatters 2,000-Year temperature record: Hotter than Roman Times

2023 summer shatters 2,000-Year temperature record: Hotter than Roman Times

Last year's summer in the Northern Hemisphere set a new record as the hottest in recorded history, with records dating back to the mid-19th century. It turns out the summer of 2023 surpassed temperature highs not encountered since the dawn of our era. By examining tree rings, scientists have deduced it was warmer than the climate experienced during the Roman Empire.

It has not been this hot for 2,000 years! Scientists have analyzed the temperature since the beginning of our era.

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4:28 PM EDT, May 15, 2024

The consensus among scientists is clear: our planet's temperature is on a steady incline. Since the onset of the industrial revolution, the average global temperature has increased by approximately 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite skepticism from climate change doubters, who argue that temperature measurements starting in 1850 offer insufficient data for concrete conclusions, scientists have innovated ways to gauge temperature values since the very start of our era.

This understanding comes from trees, specifically through the study of the annual growth of their rings. In an article published in "Nature," researchers from Germany and the UK highlight how dendrochronological observations provide invaluable insights into past temperatures and humidity levels.

The analysis conducted by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany has confirmed the exceptional nature of the summer of 2023. As "National Geographic" reports, it was "the hottest summer since the times of 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," points out Prof. Ulf Büntgen from the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge, a study co-author.

Instruments can deceive, trees do not lie

While doubts may arise over the reliability of 19th-century measuring tools, the data derived from dendrochronological analysis stands incredibly accurate. Trees have a unique response to specific conditions.

Research shows that in the last 2,000 years, there have been two distinct little ice ages. The first occurred around the 6th century BC, while the second emerged in the early 19th century—both the aftermath of sulfur-rich volcanic eruptions. Following one such eruption, the coldest summer of our era was documented in 536 AD, when temperatures dipped approximately 7.2 degrees lower than those of the summer of 2023.

The comparative measurement of average temperatures over the past 2,000 years reveals that last year's summer months were, on average, 3.96 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the corresponding period's average from the 1st century to the end of the 19th century. Scientists warn in their article that this summer could set new temperature records, presenting an exceptionally dangerous scenario for everyone.