By John Ikani
Planet Earth experienced the hottest global temperature ever recorded this week, sending climate alarm bells ringing.
Data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction revealed that the average global temperature peaked at a staggering 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit) on Monday, marking the highest reading in the history of climate records.
But that wasn’t the end of it – just one day later, the mercury climbed even higher, reaching an astonishing 17.18 degrees Celsius.
The blistering heat wave shattered the previous record set back in August 2016 when temperatures peaked at 16.92 degrees Celsius.
While the new milestone is still deemed preliminary, experts are warning that it may only be the beginning of an even hotter trend this year.
Robert Rohde, lead scientist at Berkeley Earth, took to Twitter on Tuesday, predicting that we might witness several even warmer days in the next six weeks.
As the world faces this relentless heat onslaught, concerns arise over the growing impact of climate change and the additional warming effects of the natural climate phenomenon, El Niño.
Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, urged against celebrating this record.
She emphasized that with the summer in the northern hemisphere mostly ahead and El Niño developing, we should brace ourselves for more records to tumble.
This year has already seen numerous heat records obliterated, leading to catastrophic consequences worldwide.
The United States, particularly Texas and the South, experienced a brutal heatwave in late June, subjecting residents to triple-digit Fahrenheit temperatures and extreme humidity.
Meanwhile, Mexico sweltered in intense heat, with at least 112 people falling victim to the soaring temperatures since March.
India, too, suffered from a scorching heat wave, claiming the lives of at least 44 people in Bihar state.
China joined the list of victims, experiencing multiple blistering heat waves and reporting the highest number of hot days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) over a six-month period since the inception of records.
Even the UK, renowned for its temperate weather, could not escape the heatwave’s wrath.
The country recorded its hottest June since records began in 1884, with an average temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius (60.4 Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record by a substantial 0.9 degrees Celsius.
Scientists stress that alongside natural variability, human-induced climate change remains a significant driving force behind these extreme temperatures.
Paul Davies, Met Office climate extremes principal fellow and chief meteorologist, harped on the undeniable link between rising temperatures and human activities, urging immediate action.
“Alongside natural variability, the background warming of the Earth’s atmosphere due to human-induced climate change has driven up the possibility of reaching record high temperatures,” said Davies in a statement.
Similarly, Senior lecturer Friederike Otto urged immediate action, stressing that the “loss of life and livelihood” demands an end to fossil fuel consumption without delay.
