If we were to go back 142 years we would not find a July as hot as this year’s. In fact, since we began regularly monitoring the temperature of our Planet, there have never been temperatures as high in July as they have been this year. This news was reported by the climatologists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. federal agency that deals with the oceans and climate. Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator, said: “July is typically the hottest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself as the hottest July and month ever recorded. This record adds to the disturbing and disruptive path that climate change has set for the globe.”
Here are some of the figures from July: land surface and ocean temperatures were 0.93°C higher than those recorded in the 20th century and an average of 16.73 degrees Celsius was reached. In addition, the record temperature measured is 0.01 degrees higher than the previous record set in July 2016 (which by the way had already been equalled in 2019 and 2020). In the northern hemisphere, the Earth’s surface temperature was 1.54°C higher, surpassing the previous record, also in July, in 2012. If we look at regional areas, Asia had its hottest July on record followed by Europe.
The scorching heat of this July confirms the scenario envisaged by the IPCC report presented in Geneva a few days ago. Unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to about 1.5°C or even 2°C will be a goal out of reach. And, to date, greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are responsible for about 1.1°C of warming compared to the period 1850-1900. While there is already enough proof, this is yet another demonstration of the need for increased efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. As well as of how much we need to speed up our action to achieve real results.
Read more...
