Visualizations by
Mark SubbaRao
Released on September 14, 2023
The summer of 2023 was Earth’s hottest since global records began in 1880, according to an analysis by scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York.
The months of June, July, and August combined were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.23 degrees Celsius) warmer than any other summer in NASA’s record, and 2.1 degrees F (1.2 C) warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980. August alone was 2.2 F (1.2 C) warmer than the average. June through August is considered meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
Three graphics are provided here. A map showing the regional variation of temperature anomalies, a plot of monthly temperature anomalies with the seasonal cycle included, and a climate spiral graphic plotting monthly temperature anomalies without the seasonal cycle.
Temperature anomalies are deviations from a long term global average. In this case the period 1951-1980 is used to define the baseline for the anomaly. These temperature anomalies are based on the GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP v4), an estimate of global surface temperature change. The data file used to create this visualization is publicly accessible here.
The Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) is a NASA laboratory managed by the Earth Sciences Division of the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The laboratory is affiliated with Columbia University’s Earth Institute and School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York.
Additional versions of these graphics labeled in Fahrenheit and Spanish are below.
Mark SubbaRao (NASA/GSFC): Lead Visualizer Ed Hawkins (National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading): Visualizer Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support Eytan Kaplan (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Web Administrator Gavin A. Schmidt (NASA/GSFC GISS): Lead Scientist Peter H. Jacobs (NASA/GSFC): Lead Science Support
Please give credit for this item to: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Short URL to share this page: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5161
Data Used:
GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP)/GISTEMP