Hottest day on record. A new record was set on Sunday

Today, most of the Polish area experienced a respite from the heat, which has been very oppressive over the past few days. Despite the temporary relief, the current year has turned out to be even more difficult in terms of temperatures than the previous one. Sunday, July 21, recorded the hottest day in the history of measurements, the global average temperature was 17.09°C. The record was recorded by the European Climate Change Service. Copernicus Climate Change, which has been monitoring global weather patterns since 1940. The day marked the culmination of a more than year-long period of unusually high temperatures, which scientists link to long-term climate change.

The previous record for the hottest day was set last year, on July 6, when the average global temperature was 17.08°C. Although the difference is almost indistinguishable from the previous record, what really stands out is the difference between temperatures since July 2023. and all previous years – reported the agency on its website.

Causes of extreme temperatures

As of June 2023. each month has recorded record-breaking temperatures compared to corresponding months in previous years. Scientists point to human activity as the main cause of these extremes, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Gases such as carbon dioxide (_CO2) and methane (_CH4) trap heat in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect. These emissions mainly come from the burning of fossil fuels, agricultural and industrial activities. At the same time, deforestation reduces the Earth’s ability to absorb_CO2.

According to NOAA, the past seven days have seen record-high temperatures in 550 locations around the world, which is being observed even in such remote regions as Antarctica. New research confirms that Antarctica’s climate is warming at an alarming rate. These changes could have serious consequences for global sea levels and marine ecosystems.

Extreme temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts and floods, challenging communities and economies around the world. Rising temperatures convince scientists that the current year could be even warmer than the previous one. According to an analysis published by the nonprofit organization Berkeley Earth, 2024 has a 92 percent chance of setting a new annual heat record, predicting that average temperatures will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, which is considered the critical threshold for safe warming.

As a consequence of the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – we will certainly see new records broken in the next few months, in the next few years, ” predicts Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus center.

The effects of such high temperatures

Record temperatures are having a wide-ranging impact, affecting not only human health, but also infrastructure, agriculture and ecosystems. Many regions are facing droughts and increasingly frequent wildfires.

Extreme heat is causing serious health problems, including an increase in heat stroke and dehydration. Studies show that temperatures above 30-31°C pose serious health risks, especially for the elderly and those suffering from comorbidities. High temperatures are also destructive to infrastructure, causing damage to roads, bridges and power grids.

Agriculture also suffers significantly from extreme heat. Droughts and high temperatures cause significant crop losses, which has a direct impact on food prices and global food security.

What’s in store for us?

The Earth’s intense warming is expected to slow down at the end of this year, at least temporarily. The La Niña phenomenon, characterized by a cooling of the Pacific water surface, may provide relief from the extreme heat caused by El Niño. According to forecasts by the World Meteorological Organization, there is a 60-70 percent. probability of La Niña occurring in the second half of 2024. This phenomenon could lower global temperatures, although long-term climate change will still result in rising temperatures.

The end of El Niño does not mean a pause in long-term climate change, as our planet will continue to warm due to heat-trapping greenhouse gases, WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett stressed.