Monday saw the highest global temperatures ever recorded, surpassing the previous day’s record, with countries like Japan, Bolivia, and the United States experiencing extreme heat, as reported by the European climate change service.
Preliminary satellite data published by Copernicus on Wednesday revealed that Monday was 0.06 degrees Celsius (0.1 degree Fahrenheit) hotter than Sunday.
Climate scientists suggest that this could be the warmest it has been in 120,000 years due to human-induced climate change. While it cannot be confirmed that Monday was the absolute hottest day in that period, average temperatures have not reached these levels since long before human agricultural practices began.
However, verifying this claim is challenging, according to University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann, as data from tree-rings, corals, and ice cores do not extend back that far.
The rise in temperature over recent years aligns with the predictions of climate scientists regarding the impact of continued fossil fuel consumption by humans.
“We are witnessing a time where weather and climate records are consistently being broken, leading to significant loss of lives and livelihoods,” said Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
Deaths resulting from high temperatures highlight the urgency of taking stronger action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the primary greenhouse gas, according to Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald.
Copernicus’ initial data indicates that the global average temperature on Monday was 17.15 degrees Celsius (62.87 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking the previous record set just a year ago. The record before that was in 2016 when average temperatures peaked at 16.8 degrees Celsius (62.24 degrees Fahrenheit).
While 2024 has been exceptionally warm, the unusually warm Antarctic winter played a key role in pushing temperatures to new heights this week, according to Copernicus. A similar pattern occurred on the southern continent last year when the previous record was set in early July.
Although Copernicus data dates back to 1940, other measurements by the U.S. and U.K. governments began in 1880. Taking these into consideration along with tree rings and ice cores, many scientists assert that last year’s record highs were the hottest in about 120,000 years. The first six months of 2024 have exceeded even those records.
Scientists emphasize that without human-induced climate change, extreme temperature records would not be broken as frequently as they have been in recent years.
Former head of U.N. climate negotiations, Christiana Figueres, warns that immediate action is necessary to avoid severe consequences. She stresses the importance of targeted national policies to facilitate transformation.
Climate scientists express surprise at the consecutive occurrences of such hot days over two years, given the natural conclusion of the El Nino warming earlier this year.
“This highlights the significant warming of Earth’s climate,” remarked Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India, and Borenstein from Washington.
Follow Sibi Arasu on X at @sibi123 and Seth Borenstein at @borenbears
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