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Global warming is accelerating because the drive for warming, Earth’s energy imbalance, has doubled in the past decade. Measurement of the acceleration is hampered by unforced tropical (El Nino/La Nina) variability, but a good measuring stick is provided by warming between successive large El Ninos. Strengthening of the current (2023-24) El Nino has raised it to a level similar to the 1997-98 and 2015-16 El Ninos. The first six months of the current El Nino are 0.39°C warmer than the same six months of the 2015-16 El Nino, a global warming rate of 0.49°C/decade, consistent with expectation of a large acceleration of global warming. We expect the 12-month mean temperature by May 2024 to eliminate any doubt about global warming acceleration. Subsequent decline of the 12-month temperature below 1.5°C will likely be limited, confirming that the 1.5°C limit has already been passed.

Comment représenter au mieux l’évolution climatique en cours pour favoriser la réflexion sur la menacequ’elle représente ? James Hansen et Makiko Sato (Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Nasa) viennent demodifier leur traditionnel graphique montrant la courbe des températures de la planète depuis 1880. Ils n’ont pas changé la courbe elle même, mais la période de référence et également indiqué la moyenne glissante sur les 12 derniers mois.