Earth Breaks Heat Records for the Third Time This Week

On Thursday, Earth experienced another alarming milestone as its average temperature reached a new unofficial record high. This marked the third occurrence in a single week, which had already been classified as the hottest on record.

According to data from the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, a tool that utilizes satellite data and computer simulations to assess global conditions, the planetary average soared to 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17.23 degrees Celsius). This surpassed the previous marks of 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit and 17.18 degrees Celsius recorded on Tuesday and equaled on Wednesday.

These scorching temperatures were observed in various locations worldwide, ranging from Jingxing, China, where the mercury climbed to nearly 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius), to the unexpectedly warm Antarctic region. In Antarctica, temperatures throughout much of the continent exceeded normal levels by as much as 8 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 degrees Celsius) this week.

In response to the findings from the University of Maine, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a cautionary statement, highlighting their inability to verify the data due to its reliance on computer modeling. However, NOAA acknowledged that the current warm period aligns with the broader trend of climate change.

Despite the skepticism surrounding the analysis, the University of Maine’s data has been widely regarded as another distressing indication of the ongoing climate crisis. Several climate scientists expressed little surprise at the unofficial temperature records witnessed this week.

Robert Watson, a scientist and former chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, pointed out the lack of genuine commitment from governments, the private sector, and citizens in addressing climate change. He noted that the desire for cheap energy and food without accounting for their true costs hinder progress.

This report was filed by Borenstein from Washington and O’Malley from Philadelphia.

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• University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer
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