Temperatures From July 2023 To July 2024 Were The Highest On Record, Scientists Found

New data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union shows that in the last twelve months, the average global temperature has been higher by 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era.

Extreme Weather

The Earth was hotter by 1.64 degrees Celsius compared to a year's temperatures ranging from July 2023 through June 2024. This conclusion was made by scientists who added that those were the highest temperatures ever recorded.

The intensification of heat might result in increased exposure to extreme weather by a larger population yet this does not mean global leaders have crossed their vow of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius at the close of this century.

This objective depends less on individual years and more on decadal averages. Also, the possibility of tipping points occurring is high and the climate is uncertain in case temperature rises further.

According to the head of the Copernicus Climate Change Service that carried out analysis of data, Carlo Buontempo, says the results show a big and lasting change in climate rather than just a statistical anomaly.

"Even if this specific streak of extremes ends at some point, we are bound to see new records being broken as the climate continues to warm," he said.

For keeping an eye on significant climate indicators, European Space Agency's Copernicus scientific organization gathers billions of observations every day through satellites, ships, airplanes, and weather stations.

In the hottest June ever recorded, it was discovered that June 2024 was the twelfth month in a row to have temperatures higher by 1.5 degrees Celsius than they should be between 1850 and 1900.

The scientists observed that although temperatures in some months hovered just above 1.5 degree Celsius with "relatively small margins," data from other climate organizations might disagree regarding the 12-month temperature streak.

According to Aditi Mukherji, the research body CGIAR director and the co-author of the latest IPCC report, this is not good news.

He emphasized that extreme weather conditions are getting stronger as the earth's temperature gets higher, and that the year's most intense heat waves happened when it was 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Temperature Highlights

In southeast Europe and Turkey, temperatures were mostly above average; while, in western Europe, Iceland, and northwest Russia, they were either close to or below average.

Outside of Europe, eastern Canada, the western United States, Mexico, Brazil, northern Siberia, the Middle East, northern Africa, and western Antarctica had the highest above-average temperatures.

Air temperatures over the ocean remained abnormally high over several locations, but temperatures were below average over the eastern equatorial Pacific, suggesting the emergence of La Niña.

Over Iceland, central Europe, and the majority of southwest Europe, June 2024 was wetter than usual. The intense precipitation caused flooding in parts of Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland.

Over Ireland, the majority of the UK, southern Italy, and most of Eastern Europe, especially the Black Sea region, the month was drier than usual.

Outside of Europe, June 2024 had more precipitation than usual in several areas of North America due to a number of storms, including the remarkable Hurricane Beryl. Additionally, it was wetter than usual throughout parts of Australia, South America, southernmost Africa, and southwest and southeast Asia.

Most of South America, certain parts of Asia, and all of North America saw drier-than-normal weather. In central South America and northeastern Russia, there were severe wildfires.