Preliminary data has revealed that the world recently experienced the hottest week on record, following the hottest June on record. This record-breaking heat extends to both land and sea, with unprecedented sea surface temperatures and a record low extent of Antarctic sea ice.
The implications of these scorching temperatures for ecosystems and the environment are potentially devastating, underscoring the profound changes occurring in Earth’s system due to human-induced climate change.
Furthermore, the development of an El Niño event is expected to intensify the heat, leading to more extreme temperatures and marine heatwaves. This is concerning news for both terrestrial and marine environments.
According to provisional reanalysis data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, the global average temperature on July 7th reached 17.24 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 16.94 degrees Celsius set in August 2016 during a strong El Niño year.
While the Japanese reanalysis data has yet to be confirmed, it aligns with preliminary data from the Copernicus ECMWF ERA5 dataset. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) combines reanalysis datasets with global observations from surface stations and ships to provide comprehensive assessments of global temperatures in its State of the Climate reports.
The unprecedented heatwave underscores the urgent need for concerted global efforts to address climate change and mitigate its far-reaching impacts on our planet.
