Every new climatic indicator known does nothing but break previous records, and all this happens at a dizzying speed. Copernicus service analyzing global climate just announced records the highest global average temperature this July. And this is both on land and on the sea surface. The planet plunges into unknown territory.
In fact, the feared 1.5ºC increase over the pre-industrial period set as the Paris Agreement limit for 2100 was achieved in July, but this is expected to be temporary. But even so, the situation is dramatic: “The global average temperature in July 2023 was the highest ever recorded. in any month” refers to a press release issued by Copernicus.
A new temperature record has also been set at sea, even though we have just come from a long period of unusually high temperatures since April. Temperature in the North Atlantic in July was 1.05ºC above average. Even Greenland marine heatwaves recordedAs in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean and the Labrador Sea.
Moved by the emergence of the El Niño phenomenon, temperatures continue to rise unstoppably. “In July, we witnessed global air and ocean surface temperatures reach all-time highs. These records have dire consequences for both humans and the planet.“We are increasingly exposed to more frequent and intense extreme events,” said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Service.
We have reached 1.5ºC warming
If you look at the 2023 dataset from January to July, this is the third warmest year to date. But July alone was the hottest month ever recorded: “The global average temperature in July was 1.5ºC above pre-Industrial Revolution levels. Although temporary, it demonstrates the urgency of ambitious efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.”
As a result of all this, the effects of warming are increasing rapidly. The size of Antarctic sea ice has decreased more than ever since since July, with its surface 15% lower than average.“By far the lowest coverage in a month of July since satellite observations began,” Burgess says.
In contrast, sea ice in the Arctic remained below average but above the record low in July 2020.
And while 2023 may be “only” the third-warmest year in history overall, it could end up climbing positions in this sad ranking, anticipating what’s going to happen in August and other months, according to Copernicus.
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