Record breaking temperatures continue in August
Three major worldwide datasets show that the year has been the warmest on record for the whole world as the prolonged trend of exceptionally high temperatures has persisted.
August was the warmest on record, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service have all stated that it was the 15th consecutive month of record-high global temperatures—which is a record in and of itself.
The hottest summer ever recorded occurred in the northern hemisphere (boreal), with the hottest day ever recorded in July. In July and August of 2023 and 2024, the world’s temperature exceeded all previous records.
In the upcoming days, global summaries from other international climate centers will be accessible.
In its annual State of the Climate report, published by WMO, six international datasets are combined to provide aggregated rankings that indicate 2023 will be the warmest year ever recorded. November will see the release of the preliminary State of the Global Climate 2024 report by WMO in advance of the UN Climate Change conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan.
August saw a continuation of August’s harsh weather, which included excessive heat, drought, and precipitation, along with wildfires and floods that left many countries in ruins.
One measure of climate change is temperature. There are many more. Glaciers, sea ice, and ocean heat are a few more.
According to assessments from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and NOAA, global sea ice extent was the second lowest on record in August, with Antarctic sea ice being the second lowest and Arctic sea ice being the fourth lowest.
August was the second-warmest worldwide ocean on record. The majority of the equatorial Pacific Ocean recorded near-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and predictions indicated that La Niña might develop in the fall of the northern hemisphere. Nevertheless, sea surface temperatures were abnormally high in numerous areas of the oceans.
Most of the world’s land surface saw above-average August temperatures, with the exception of Alaska and eastern Russia.southern South America, central Africa and west-central Asia.
Monthly anomalies in global surface air temperature for the five warmest years on record, as of now, compared to 1991–2020. The years 2024, 2023, and all subsequent years are displayed with grey lines, respectively.
August’s record-breaking heat serves as a stark reminder of the global climate problems that still need to be addressed. If prompt and strong action is not taken, the repercussions will only worsen as the world continues to heat up. To counter this existential threat, corporations, governments, and individuals must collaborate, investing in sustainable solutions and taking the required actions to ensure a future that is habitable for all.