PARIS: The European Union’s climate observatory confirmed on Tuesday that July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth.
It stated, “Marked by fires and heatwaves worldwide, the last month was 0.33 degrees Celsius higher than the record made in July 2019 when the average temperature was 16.63C.”
It stated that “the month was 0.72C warmer than the average for July between 1991 and 2020.” The use of fossil fuels has contributed to an increase in global temperature of about 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late 1800s, increasing heatwave duration, intensity, and frequency.
Southern Europe was among the areas of the Northern Hemisphere to endure heat waves. According to the EU climate observatory Copernicus, most Antarctica was surrounded by temperatures well above average.
“The worldwide mean for 2023 is 0.43C relative to 1991-2020, the third highest on record, after 0.49C for 2016 and 0.48C for 2020. Given that the last few months of 2016 were relatively cool and that the rest of 2023 is anticipated to be relatively warm as the current El Nino event develops, the difference between 2023 and 2016 is expected to close in the following months.
A new record may have been set in July, according to scientists. Concerns regarding potential repercussions on the climate of the planet, marine life, and coastal towns have been raised due to the world’s oceans breaking a record for temperature.
According to data from the European Union’s climate observatory, the ocean’s surface temperature increased to 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.7 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 30.
According to an AFP report, the previous record was 20.95C, set in March 2016 by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Polar regions were not included in the test samples. —AFP/APP
