Our planet has experienced unprecedented heat over the past three days, setting new records for the hottest days ever recorded three times in a row.
This alarming trend has been attributed to a combination of human-caused climate change and the weather phenomenon, El Niño.
“Monday, July 3rd was the hottest day ever recorded on planet Earth. A record that lasted until… Tuesday, July 4th,” Bill McGuire, an earth scientist at University College London, wrote in a Tweet. “Totally unprecedented and terrifying.”
On Tuesday, July 4th, the average global temperature reached 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.92 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record set on Monday. Shockingly, the record was broken again on Wednesday, with temperatures once again reaching 17.18 degrees Celsius.
The global temperature broke records again yesterday, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change.
Experts warn that the scorching heat is a result of the impact of El Niño combined with greenhouse gas emissions, driving global warming to new heights.
Robert Rohde, a physicist and lead scientist at Berkeley Earth, expressed concern that even hotter temperatures may be expected over the next six weeks.
While the available temperature data only dates back to 1979, scientists believe that Tuesday’s temperatures likely represent the highest recorded temperatures even before the era of modern measurements. This underscores the magnitude of global warming’s impact and the need for immediate action.
The implications of this heatwave extend beyond the immediate consequences. Tree ring and ice core data suggest that global average temperatures may not have been this high in over 125,000 years. Experts emphasize the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent further temperature records from being shattered in the future.
This year has already witnessed numerous record-breaking high temperatures worldwide, leading to tragic outcomes. Mexico has experienced over 112 heat-related deaths since March, while India, China, and the southern United States have also endured deadly heatwaves. The arrival of El Niño in June has exacerbated these extreme weather events, further emphasizing the need for immediate action to mitigate climate change.
Laos recorded its highest-ever temperature in May this year, along with Thailand and Vietnam, while experts have expressed concern that developing countries lack comprehensive heat action plans.
As experts predict that the next five years are likely to be the warmest ever recorded, the World Meteorological Organization warns that the critical warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels could be reached.