A new temperature record

Measurements show global air temperature on Sunday 17.09 degrees CelsiusIt may seem strange that such a low indicator is called a record, but it is worth considering that it is. average value across the planetIt takes into account not only the hot tropical regions, but also the Arctic and Antarctic, which have shown a disappointing trend towards warming and temperature maximums in recent years.

Humanity has been observing the temperature since 1940. The earlier data we have are not regular and not always made by professional scientists, but thanks to individual records and observations found in geology, natural formations, trees and other objects.

Ukraine has already experienced its hottest period, with abnormal temperatures warming the surface to more than 60 degrees Celsius in some places, but the heatwave is still ongoing in other parts of the planet, causing forest fires.

The world experienced its hottest day
– says the monitoring report.

The new daily high was just 0.01 degrees Celsius above the previous record of 17.08 degrees Celsius set on July 6, 2023.

“We are now in truly uncharted territory, and as the climate continues to warm, we are certain to see new records being broken in the months and years ahead,” said C3S director Carlo Buontempo.

And while the new record is not far off from the previous one, the reality of the unprecedented global temperatures that scientists have been recording for over a year is truly shocking. Every month since June 2023 has eclipsed its own temperature record compared to the same month in previous years. In this context, the temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere are of course not unexpected, because scientists expected and predicted exactly that.

Global temperatures are expected to peak soon and begin to gradually drop, but remember we still have August ahead of us.

What is happening to our climate?

Climate change is causing longer, stronger and more frequent extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, and this year has seen major disasters around the world:

• Deadly heatwaves have already hit North America, Europe, Mexico, India and Thailand this year.
• Floods devastated parts of East Africa, China, and Brazil.
• As prolonged high temperatures make conditions extremely dry in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, wildfires are spreading across Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.

Burning fossil fuels is a major cause of global warming, but despite international efforts to transition to clean energy and slow rising temperatures, emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases continue to rise.

2023 was the hottest year on record, and given the temperatures seen so far, 2024 is almost certain to surpass it.