Cloud Cover Conundrum: 2023’s Hot Surprise

2023 scorched the charts as the hottest year ever, with nearly half the days registering temperatures 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Blame? A mysterious drop in low-altitude clouds that plummeted Earth’s albedo, turning our planet into a giant solar sponge. This slick reduction not only fueled record-breaking heatwaves from the Mediterranean to the North Pacific but also hints at a climate sensitivity that might send us hotter than expected. Time to cloud our judgment and act fast!