July 2023: The Hottest Month Ever Recorded on Earth

July 2023 has broken all records as the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, according to data from the European agency Copernicus. With an average temperature of 16.95°C, this new record surpasses all previous records for any month. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts stated that this new peak is a cause for concern.

Implications of Record-Breaking Heat

July 2023 was 0.72°C hotter than the average July temperature from 1991 to 2020. It was also 0.33°C hotter than the previous hottest month, July 2019. Copernicus estimates that July 2023 was around 1.5°C hotter than the average temperature from 1850 to 1900. This scorching heatwave affected various regions in the northern hemisphere, including Southern Europe, South America, and parts of Antarctica.

Alarming Rise in Ocean Temperatures

Not only were land temperatures affected, but ocean temperatures also reached record highs. Copernicus reported that the average global sea surface temperatures in July were 0.51°C higher than the average from 1991 to 2020. In the North Atlantic, temperatures were even 1.05°C higher than usual for this time of year. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of Copernicus, emphasized the serious consequences of these records, stating that they lead to more frequent and intense extreme events.

Words of the day

temperature : température

record : enregistrer