The world has shattered the average temperature record three times in just four days, deepening fears about the broader changes caused by the climate emergency.
Unofficial data from American researchers indicate that the global daily average temperature soared to 17.23 degrees Celsius on July 6, surpassing two previously recorded high temperatures in recent days.
The world continuously records temperature records in recent days. (Image: CNN).
This extreme weather event came shortly after the European Union’s climate change agency confirmed that Earth experienced the hottest June on record, with unprecedented sea surface temperatures and record low sea ice levels in Antarctica.
This situation has deeply alarmed climate scientists. Recently, the United Nations weather agency warned that with the increasing greenhouse gas emissions and the El Niño phenomenon, worse outcomes are still ahead.
“The global temperature record was broken again yesterday. I will say welcome to the future – a much hotter future,” stated Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, via Twitter.
Record Temperatures
From July 3 to July 5, the global average temperature broke or reached record levels not seen since at least 1979, according to an unofficial tool from the University of Maine used to measure air temperature globally at 2 meters above sea level.
The University of Maine’s data has been recorded since 1979 and is commonly used by climate scientists as a reference.
Specifically, the average global temperature on July 3 rose to 17 degrees Celsius, while July 4 and July 5 both recorded 17.2 degrees Celsius. These figures represent the global average, including both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, where it is currently winter.
This is the first time the global average temperature has exceeded 17 degrees Celsius in 44 years – since the data collection began. The previous record was 16.92 degrees Celsius in August 2016.
Extreme heat waves raise concerns. (Image: AP).
“Global air temperatures keep rising!” said climate researcher Leon Simons via Twitter, citing multiple heat records this week.
Experts indicate that the three-day heatwave may be driven by climate change as well as the onset of El Niño. During El Niño, the surface of the Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than usual, especially at the equator and along the coasts of South America and Central America.
Research shows that El Niño can alter atmospheric conditions, increasing heatwaves worldwide.
“It’s important to remember that the Pacific covers nearly half of the planet. When El Niño occurs, a very large part of the planet is exerting pressure on the global average temperature,” said Kim Cobb, a climate scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, in an interview with Live Science.
Nonetheless, July is not the only month to break heat records. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Agency of the European Union, last June was also the hottest June on record, with average temperatures 0.2 degrees Celsius higher than the same period last year.
“Worrying news for the planet”
Over the past week, dangerous heatwaves have swept through several states in the Southeastern United States, as well as Texas, where at least 13 people have died from heat-related illnesses, according to CNBC.
Scientists predict that marine heatwaves linked to El Niño could devastate fish and coral populations, similar to the largest global coral bleaching event in 2016.
“Temperature records continue to be broken. But the accompanying factors are what truly cause the loss,” Cobb stated.
The world is at risk of exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit. (Image: Reuters).
According to a May report from the World Meteorological Organization, in facing threats from climate change and El Niño, it is likely that the world will exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit within the next five years.
“Depending on the severity of this event, the annual warming caused by fossil fuel emissions may become even more severe,” the expert commented.
Meanwhile, Chris Hewitt, director of the climate agency at the World Meteorological Organization, emphasized that we are in “uncharted territory and may experience many heat records as El Niño develops further.” According to him, these impacts will last until 2024.
“This is worrying news for this planet,” he said.
