On Tuesday, the planet experienced its hottest day in decades and possibly centuries, with Wednesday poised to mark another record-breaking high. This is just another example of extreme climate change that scientists find alarming, but not surprising. According to theUniversity of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, the average global temperature on Tuesday reached 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (17.18 degrees Celsius), while Monday’s average temperature was 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit (17.01 degrees Celsius), setting a new record that only lasted for 24 hours.
Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field explains that this record-breaking heat is further evidence of the widely accepted notion that global warming is leading to a hotter future. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Sarah Kapnick confirms that 38 million Americans were under heat alerts on Wednesday. She attributes the global heat to a combination of the natural warming effect of El Nino in the Pacific and human-induced climate change from the burning of fossil fuels.
Even regions normally known for cooler climates are feeling the impact of this heat wave. In North Grenville, Ontario, the city has converted ice-hockey rinks into cooling centers as temperatures rise to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), with humidity making it feel even hotter. Residents describe the conditions as similar to living in a tropical country.
While these record highs are not official government records, they provide valuable insights into the current state of our climate. University of Maine climate scientist Sean Birkle, creator of the Climate Reanalyzer, likens these unofficial figures to a snapshot of an ill patient’s temperature; it suggests that something is amiss, but longer-term data is needed for a complete diagnosis. Nevertheless, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plans to take these figures into account when compiling their official records.
Although scientists typically use longer data sets to track global warming, the recent highs indicate that we are entering uncharted territory. Additionally, the global average temperature on Tuesday was nearly 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) higher than the 1979-2000 average, which had already broken records for the 20th and 19th centuries. High-temperature records have been broken in Quebec, Peru, and even Beijing, which experienced nine consecutive days above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) last week. Cities across the United States, from Medford, Oregon, to Tampa, Florida, are also witnessing all-time highs.
Due to these scorching temperatures, many people are suffering from the extreme conditions. Elderly and young individuals are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health issues. Erinanne Saffell, Arizona’s state climatologist, emphasizes the importance of staying hydrated and cool, and not exerting oneself outdoors during these times.
The heat is affecting various communities differently. In West Texas, construction workers use cool wraps and Gatorade to cope with the heat, while Minnesotans face more challenging conditions while working in the vineyards. In Dallas, musician Sam Cormier finds a sense of camaraderie as apartment dwellers bring him drinks while he plays outdoors. People still walk outside and enjoy being outdoors despite the high temperatures, suggesting that the impact of the heat can vary from person to person.
The global heat can be attributed to both the natural warming effect of El Nino in the Pacific and human-induced climate change from the burning of fossil fuels. United Nations Environment Programme Director, Inger Andersen, warns that people across the world are experiencing unprecedented heat waves and that ignoring scientific evidence puts the most vulnerable populations at risk. Furthermore, University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado notes that these record-breaking highs follow months of unusual meteorological and climate patterns, such as record warmth in the North Atlantic and record low sea ice in Antarctica.
Wednesday is forecasted to potentially break another unofficial record, with Antarctica’s average temperature expected to be 4.5 degrees Celsius (8.1 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the 1979-2000 average. Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler predicts that future generations will look back on the summer of 2023 as one of the coolest in their lifetimes, assuming that humanity does not take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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