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Earth registers hottest July on record, US agency says

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  • Earth registers hottest July on record, US agency says
  • August 13, 2024
  • Article Body Text washington — <p>Last month was the hottest July on record, making it the fourteenth straight record-breaking month, a U.S. environmental agency reported Monday.</p> <p>The monthly report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also said that 2024 now has a 77% chance of being the warmest year on record.</p> <p>The July calculation by NOAA contradicted the EU's Copernicus climate monitor, which -- using a different dataset — calculated last month's average temperature as being slightly lower than July 2023.<br /> However, both agencies agree on the alarming trend of record-breaking heat, with the past year seeing month after month of new highs.</p> <p>According to NOAA, whose historical data goes back 175 years, 2024 will definitely be one of the five hottest years on record.<br /> In July, the global temperature was 2.18 degrees Fahrenheit (1.21 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average of 60.4F (15.8C), the U.S. agency said.</p> <p>The month saw a series of heat waves across Mediterranean and Gulf countries, NOAA said.</p> <p>Africa, Europe and Asia recorded their hottest July on record, while North America was the second hottest.</p> <p>Ocean temperatures were their second warmest ever in July, according to NOAA -- the same reading as Copernicus.</p> <p>Scientists at Copernicus noted last week that &quot;air temperatures over the ocean remained unusually high over many regions&quot; despite a swing from the El Nino weather pattern that helped fuel a spike in global temperatures to its opposite La Nina, which has a cooling effect.</p> <p>Last year was also the warmest year on record.</p> <p>&quot;The devastating effects of climate change started well before 2023 and will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net zero,&quot; said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date August 12, 2024 20:15 EDT
  • Byline Agence France-Presse
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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