The first week of July was the hottest ever in the worldexperts said on Monday World Meteorological Organization (OMM), who at a press conference said that there is concern among the scientific community in connection with the temperature records that are recorded on the planet.
While the effects of climate change have been foreseen for decades, what will happen in 2023 is “unprecedented” and in parts of the globe, such as the North Atlantic, temperatures rise beyond what “models predicted”. “said Michael Sparrow, Director of Research at WMO.
This is the latest in a series of records this year, with June already a record. hottest month stories.
Temperatures, the WMO said in a statement, are “breaking records both on land and in the oceans,” with “potentially devastating effects on ecosystems and the environment.”
Places like Spain and Uruguay experience extreme droughts, and some US states and provinces in China face heatwaves that put tens of millions of people at risk. While Antarctic ice is melting at levels never seen before.
“There is a lot of concern in the scientific community and there are efforts to understand these changes that we are seeing. It’s very worrying,” Sparrow added.
According to preliminary data, the world has just had the hottest week on record. It follows the hottest June on record with unprecedented sea surface temperatures and record low Antarctic sea ice extent. #Climate State
🔗 https://t.co/NbYM6Nllii pic.twitter.com/5Vaw3ISs8A
—World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) July 10, 2023
extreme heat
Three of the hottest days on record occurred last week, according to the European Union weather and climate service Copernicus.
The global mean temperature reached 16.89°C on Monday, July 3, and for the first time exceeded 17°C on July 4, with a global mean temperature of 17.04°C.
But, according to preliminary data, this figure was exceeded on July 5, when the temperature reached 17.05°C.
And, although air temperature is usually what most people worry about, because it has a direct impact that is immediately felt, it is the oceans that accumulate the most heat.
High temperatures in the North Atlantic especially important off the UK coastand in some areas temperatures are 5°C warmer than normally expected at this time of year.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has classified it as a Category 4 heat wave.
This is a rare designation outside the tropics and denotes extreme heat.
“Such abnormal temperatures in this part of the North Atlantic are unheard of,” Daniela Schmidt, professor of earth sciences at the University of Bristol, told the BBC.
El Niño has just begun
Part of the rise in temperature is due to the phenomenon Boywhich develops in the tropical Pacific Ocean and is a recurring weather pattern.
El Niño is just “beginning” and its effects are expected to last until mid-2024, so in the coming months the temperature may be higher than the current one.
“2024 is expected to be a record year if the strength of El Niño continues as predicted,” said Omar Baddour, head of WMO monitoring.
Scientists fear that El Niño will temporarily push the world away from a key 1.5ºC warming milestone.
And this will only be the beginning unless radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are implemented.
However, the heat in the North Atlantic unrelated to El Niñoand the phenomenon is still under investigation, Sparrow said.
After hitting a record low summer low earlier this year, Antarctic sea ice continues to break records through the winter. At the height of the winter growth phase, it reached an all-time low size, well below the previous record for that time of year. pic.twitter.com/WYqPMcxxDx
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) July 6, 2023
Antarctic ice
As the land surface experiences intense heat, Antarctic sea ice hit an all-time low last month, which Sparrow also looks on with dismay.
How the ice around Antarctica is melting unprecedented. The region is usually relatively more stable than the Arctic. We have seen this reduction in ice in the Arctic, but not in Antarctica,” he said.
“This is a massive crisis,” he added.
The WMO said Antarctic sea ice levels last month were 17% below the average since satellite observations began.
“It’s not just the surface temperature, but the whole ocean is heating up and absorbing energy that will stay there for hundreds of years,” the WMO said.
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See original article on BBC.
Source: La Opinion
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.