Hottest Day on Record with Global Temperature Hitting a New High
By Gloria Dickie
Monday, July 3, marked a historic day as it became the hottest day ever recorded globally. The U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction revealed that the average global temperature reached an alarming 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record set in August 2016.
Heatwaves have been scorching various parts of the world, with the southern United States enduring an intense heat dome. China has also been facing a relentless heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit). Meanwhile, parts of North Africa have witnessed temperatures creeping close to a scorching 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).
Even the icy landscape of Antarctica has not been spared from the heat. In an unexpected turn of events, the continent experienced anomalously high temperatures during its winter season. Ukraine’s Vernadsky Research Base in the Argentine Islands broke its July temperature record with a surprising 8.7 degrees Celsius (47.6 Fahrenheit).
“This is not a milestone we should be celebrating,” expressed climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Britain’s Imperial College London. “It’s a death sentence for people and ecosystems.”
The scientists attribute this alarming increase in temperatures to a combination of climate change and the emerging El Nino pattern. Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, warned that this record-breaking event could be just the beginning. He stated, “Unfortunately, it promises to only be the first in a series of new records set this year as increasing emissions of [carbon dioxide] and greenhouse gases coupled with a growing El Nino event push temperatures to new highs.”
The implications of reaching such unprecedented temperatures are severe, impacting both humans and ecosystems. Urgent action is needed to address the root causes of climate change and limit carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world grapples with the consequences of this record-breaking heatwave, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritize sustainability and combat climate change. The preservation of our planet and the well-being of future generations depend on taking decisive climate action now.
(Reporting by Gloria Dickie; Editing by Mark Potter)