Hottest July ever: Why everyone should be concerned about the heat
July has stood out as one of the hottest months globally, with elevated temperatures triggering extreme weather events like heatwaves, heavy rainfall, droughts, and rampant wildfires. Here's an insight into the alarming heat surge and why it is concerning.
Women walk next to a thermometer displaying 47 Celsius degrees (116.6 Fahrenheit degrees) during the first heatwave of the year in Spain. (Photo: Reuters)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 9, 2023 20:12 IST
July this year was officially the hottest month ever globally. Independent reports from the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) contained this alarming observation.
July has consistently ranked as one of the warmest months worldwide. Temperature spikes during this pivotal period can catalyse extreme climatic phenomena: from heatwaves, torrential rain, and droughts, to rampaging wildfires.
advertisement
Temperatures in the US, Asia, and Europe show climate change entering uncharted territory. Such events ripple through ecosystems, imperilling agriculture, destabilising economies, and jeopardising human lives.
But University of Maine's data and C3S's findings, despite referencing different periods (1991-2020 and 1981-2010, respectively), converged on the stark truth that July 2023 was positively blazing.
The global average? A sweltering 16.95°C, trouncing the previous 2019 record by 0.33°C. C3S noted that July was about 1.5°C hotter than the 1850-1900 average and 0.72°C above the 1991-2020 norm. More than four decades ago, 1979 witnessed a July anomaly of -0.287°C (UMaine) and -0.3307°C (C3S).
Fast forward to recent years, the anomalies have taken a reverse turn with temperatures above the baseline in many instances.
Global warming and global warnings
Despite originating from different sources, the datasets paint a similar picture. This convergence in data strengthens the argument for a warming planet.
Europe felt this rise acutely. Several countries, including Greece, France, Italy, and Spain, saw the mercury soar past 40°C. Wildfires in Greek islands like Rhodes forced mass evacuations, a tangible testament to the temperature stats.
And as the world sweltered, Antarctic sea ice shrank to its lowest since 1979. Scientists caution that unchecked emissions could destabilise Antarctic ecosystems, echoing global repercussions.
Dr Samantha Burgess of C3S voiced concern: "The global average temperature for July 2023 is confirmed to be the highest on record for any month.” She flagged 2023 as the third warmest year, 0.43°C above recent averages. July's temperature was a worrying 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
July's record isn't an outlier. It's a precursor, foretelling hotter futures and urging global action. As temperatures rise, so should our resolve to combat climate change.
