Why has Earth been so unusually hot for the past 2 years? Climate scientists are trying to figure that out

One might be tired of the same old tale: another year, another position on the top 10 warmest years, a podium on which we definitely don’t want to stand. But the past two years have been different. And climate scientists don’t understand why.

Why has Earth been so unusually hot for the past 2 years? Climate scientists are trying to figure that out
An illustration of an orange sky with clouds and a shining sun along with a thermometer on the left that shows the temperature soaring to 50 C.

One might be tired of the same old tale: another year, another position on the top 10 warmest years, a podium on which we definitely don’t want to stand. But the past two years have been different. And climate scientists don’t understand why.