In 2023 Latin America broke a document, ratifies a examine

SAN JOSÉ (EFE).— The yr 2023 was the warmest ever recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean, a climatological impact that, along with rains and floods, undermined the financial growth of the area, the World Meteorological Group (WMO) reported yesterday. , a specialised company of the United Nations.

The WMO report titled “State of the local weather in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023” confirmed that final yr broke the warmth document, with the best common temperature on document.

In 2023, 0.82 levels above the common for the 1991-2020 interval and 1.39 above the reference for the 1961-1990 interval had been recorded.

These figures brought regarding sea degree to proceed rising at a price greater than the world common in a lot of the Atlantic space of ​​the area, which represents a menace to coastal areas.

“Sadly, 2023 was a yr of unprecedented local weather risks in Latin America and the Caribbean (…) ‘El Niño’ circumstances throughout the second half of 2023 contributed to a document heat yr and exacerbated many excessive phenomena. “This was mixed with rising temperatures and extra frequent and excessive hazards attributable to human-induced local weather change,” stated WMO Secretary-Common Celeste Saulo.

Drought

The report signifies that an intense and extreme drought, worsened by warmth waves, affected giant areas of Latin America throughout 2023, together with a lot of North and Central America.

For instance, on the finish of 2023, 76% of Mexico was affected by a point of drought. And this unfold more and more within the northern half of South America because the yr progressed and “El Niño” established itself.

Rainfall from June to September was nicely under common in a lot of the Amazon basin. Eight Brazilian states recorded the bottom rainfall from July to September in additional than 40 years and the Negro River, within the Amazon, reached its lowest degree because it started to be noticed in 1902, the textual content explains.

Excessive warmth and warmth waves affected central South America from August to December. Temperatures in some areas of Brazil exceeded 41 levels in August, when the area was hit by scorching climate in the midst of the southern winter.

For its half, the low water degree within the Panama Canal restricted ship site visitors beginning in August.

In distinction, the transition from “La Niña” to “El Niño” in the midst of the yr brought regarding a big change in rainfall patterns, and lots of areas of the area went from droughts or floods associated to “La Niña” to the other excessive. For instance, there have been torrential rains in Jamaica and Haiti, and within the Dominican Republic 21 folks died following a document each day rainfall of 431 millimeters.

Each warmth and drought, forest fires, excessive precipitation and hurricanes “had vital repercussions on well being, meals and vitality safety, and financial growth,” the report explains.

Figures cited by the WMO point out that it’s estimated that 36,695 extra heat-related deaths occurred yearly in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2000 and 2019.

The report additionally highlights the necessity to make investments extra within the Nationwide Meteorological and Hydrological Providers to strengthen predictions and early warnings within the area.

The doc warns that 47% of WMO members solely present “fundamental or important” meteorological companies and 6% present “full or superior” companies to help decision-making in climate-sensitive sectors.

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Deaths

Based on WMO figures, 36,695 extra heat-related deaths occurred yearly in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2000 and 2019.

Obligatory funding

The report additionally highlights the necessity to make investments extra within the Nationwide Meteorological and Hydrological Providers to strengthen predictions and early warnings within the area.

Cooperation

The doc warns that 47% of WMO members solely present “fundamental or important” meteorological companies and 6% “full or superior” companies to help decision-making in climate-sensitive sectors.

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