This record follows 12 consecutive months of global temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold…reports Asian Lite News
On July 21, the Earth recorded its hottest day in at least 84 years, with a global average temperature of 17.09°C, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This new high surpasses the previous record of 17.08°C set on July 6, 2023.
This record follows 12 consecutive months of global temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold. Since July 2023, there have been 57 days with temperatures surpassing the previous daily record of 16.8°C, set in August 2016.
Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S, noted the staggering difference in temperatures over the past 13 months compared to previous records. He warned of new records as the climate continues to warm. Analysis shows that 2023 and 2024 have seen higher annual maximum daily global temperatures, with the hottest years on record spanning from 2015 to 2024.
The global average temperature typically peaks between late June and early August, driven by the northern hemisphere’s summer. Current temperatures are influenced by unusually high temperatures over Antarctica and reduced sea ice extent, which has led to above-average temperatures in parts of the Southern Ocean.
The European climate agency indicates that while 2024 may surpass 2023 as the warmest year ever, the final determination depends on the intensity of La Niña. Berkeley Earth estimates a 92% chance that 2024 will set a new annual heat record and a 99% chance of an annual temperature anomaly exceeding 1.5°C above the 1850-1900 average.
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to avoid severe climate impacts. However, with the Earth’s surface temperature having already increased by around 1.2°C due to rising greenhouse gas concentrations, the risk of extreme weather events like droughts, wildfires, and floods continues to grow.
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