Title: Extreme Climate Records Broken During Summer: Concerns Arise
Subtitle: Unprecedented reductions in Antarctic ice, soaring sea temperatures, and record-breaking heatwaves raise alarm among experts
Date: [current date]
Byline: [author name]
At least four alarming climate records have been shattered this summer, highlighting the increasing impact of climate change. From record low ice levels in Antarctica to extremely warm seas and the hottest June and day ever recorded, experts express their concerns about the magnitude of these changes.
Ralf Döscher, a researcher and head of unit at the Rossby Centre, which is SMHI’s climate modeling unit, warns that climate change is pushing us toward extremes. Döscher emphasizes the significant deviations these records represent from the norm.
One of the most worrying developments is the unprecedented decline in the Antarctic ice sheet. In mid-July, the ice cover had diminished by an area almost the size of five Swedens compared to the average from 1981 to 2010. This led to the lowest ice measurements ever recorded for July.
Döscher remarks, “There is exceptionally little ice for July. It’s extreme. I had expected a slower development.”
Another concerning highlight is the unusually warm seas. In June, the global surface water temperature surpassed any other June on record, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate service. The North Atlantic also experienced its highest temperatures ever recorded in June.
“This means that the Earth has ended up on unknown ground,” states the Copernicus website.
Daniela Schmidt, a professor of geosciences at the University of Bristol, expresses surprise at the occurrence of marine heatwaves in this part of the Atlantic. The surface water temperature off the west coast of Ireland was four to five degrees warmer than normal on some days in June, classified as a “beyond extreme” heatwave by the US agency NOAA.
The Baltic Sea also experienced an extreme heatwave, causing further concern among experts.
Additionally, June broke the global average temperature record, becoming the warmest June ever recorded. Moreover, new records for the hottest day were established, surpassing the previous high of 16.92 degrees set in August 2016. From July 3 to July 6, the record was broken consecutively, reaching a peak of 17.23 degrees.
The University of Maine reports that the record from August 2016 has been broken for 22 consecutive days as of Thursday. Döscher speculates that July may break the record for the hottest month once all weather institutes compile their measurements at the end of the month.
These records are attributed to human influence on climate change, as well as natural climate fluctuations. The El Niño weather phenomenon, known for creating warmer temperatures on Earth, is currently particularly strong and contributes to exacerbating these conditions.
However, there is a disagreement among scientists regarding whether these records indicate a faster-than-expected progression of climate change. Döscher emphasizes that there is currently no evidence indicating that the Earth has reached critical tipping points, where climate change triggers new processes that accelerate the crisis. An example of a tipping point would be the complete loss of ice at either the South or North Pole.
Nonetheless, Döscher stresses that the warmer climate affects the entire global population of over 8 billion people, and adapting to these changes remains a pressing challenge.
In conclusion, the unprecedented breaking of multiple climate records this summer, from declining Antarctic ice to soaring sea temperatures and scorching heatwaves, raises concerns among experts. With the planet experiencing extreme deviations from the norm, the urgency to address climate change and adapt to its consequences becomes more evident.