The “hottest day on record” in the world: three questions about a worrying record

2023-07-05 14:37:55

17.18°C. This temperature may not seem exceptional to you, and yet it is. This is the planet-wide average, recorded in the atmosphere on Tuesday July 4 by the Climate Prediction Center (organization dependent on the American Agency for Oceanic and Atmospheric Observation). This value had never been reached at any time of the year for at least 45 years, these measurements having started in 1979. The previous record was “only” 16.92 ° C, on August 13, 2016. “Breaking News! alerted several scientists on social networks. We take stock.