Record-Breaking Heatwaves Sweeping the Globe in Summer 2023
Despite the unpredictable weather in Britain over the past few months, summer 2023 has become the hottest on record worldwide, as confirmed by the EU’s Copernicus climate service. The global average air temperature this summer exceeded the average by 1.18°F (0.66°C), reaching a record-breaking 62.18°F (16.77°C) – the highest since records began in 1940. Copernicus also revealed that August 2023 was the warmest August ever recorded globally, second only to July 2023. The scorching summer has brought extreme weather events, including heatwaves in Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as devastating wildfires in Canada and Greece.
Experts have identified greenhouse gas emissions as the primary cause of these soaring temperatures, both in the atmosphere and the oceans. They are urging world leaders to take immediate action to reduce fossil fuel emissions. The rise in air temperatures this summer is an alarming 1.18°F (0.66°C) above the average, with a global average temperature of 62.18°F (16.77°C) – the highest in history since 1940.
The Hottest Summers on Record
According to the latest data from Copernicus, the five hottest summers on record globally are as follows:
- 2023: 62.18°F (16.77°C)
- 2019: 61.66°F (16.48°C)
- 2016: 61.61°F (16.45°C)
- 2022: 61.59°F (16.44°C)
- 2020: 61.57°F (16.43°C)
It is worth noting that, except for 1998, the ten hottest summers globally over the past century have all occurred within the last decade. As the Earth swelters through these record-breaking temperatures, the impact on both people and the planet is becoming increasingly evident.
The Implications of Rising Temperatures
Carlo Buontempo, the director of Copernicus, warns of the persistently high temperatures and their unprecedented consequences for the climate system. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres goes one step further, stating that ‘climate breakdown has begun.’ He emphasizes that the extreme heat is not only alarming but also directly affecting individuals and societies.
Scientists have determined that this summer’s heatwaves are the result of ongoing climate change caused by human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London highlights the urgent need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, stating, ‘As long as we burn fossil fuels, these events will become more and more intense, providing ever greater barriers to adaptation.’
Unprecedented Record-Breaking Events
Summer 2023 has witnessed a series of remarkable records being broken. August, in particular, stands out as the warmest August ever recorded globally, with an average global temperature of 62.27°F (16.82°C). This figure exceeds the 1991-2020 August average by 0.71°C and surpasses the previous record set in 2016 by 0.31°C. Only July 2023, the preceding month, experienced higher temperatures than August.
Copernicus monitors both air and sea temperatures worldwide. In terms of sea surface temperature, the global average in August 2023 reached a new high of 69.76°F (20.98°C), well above the average for August. In the North Atlantic specifically, a daily record was set at 77.34°F (25.19°C), surpassing the previous record from September 2022.
Impacts on Europe and the UK
Europe experienced its fair share of scorching temperatures during summer 2023. The average temperature across the continent reached 67.33°F (19.63°C), making it the fifth warmest summer on record. This temperature was 1.49°F (0.83°C) higher than the average. Furthermore, August 2023 was also the hottest August ever recorded globally, with an average global temperature of 62.27°F (16.82°C).
In contrast, the UK has experienced a rather damp and chilly summer. Despite the heatwaves seen in mainland Europe, July 2023 marked the sixth wettest July in British history, according to the Met Office. However, experts caution that local temperatures are not necessarily indicative of global warming trends. Even though Brits may have difficulty believing these new records due to their local weather conditions, the rising global temperatures remain a cause for concern.
Adapting to Escalating Heat
A study conducted by the University of Oxford reveals that the UK will need to adapt significantly to cope with increasingly sweltering temperatures due to climate change. In line with some southern European countries, such as Spain, there are suggestions that the British working day should start as early as 6am and finish around 2pm to avoid the uncomfortable heat. These adjustments to working hours would be particularly beneficial for individuals…
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