For the third day in a row, the Earth’s average temperature remained at a record high

Earth’s average temperature maintained a record high for the third consecutive day. On Wednesday, the average global temperature stood at 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.9 degrees Fahrenheit), according to data from the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer. This temperature matched the previous day’s record and followed another record of 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit) set on Monday. These records are part of a series of extreme weather events driven by climate change.

Scientists have been warning for months that 2023 could witness unprecedented heat due to human-caused climate change, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil. They have also noted the transition from La Nina, a natural cooling phenomenon, to El Nino, characterized by warming oceans. The North Atlantic has experienced record warmth this year.

Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field, not involved in the calculations, stated that records like these provide further evidence supporting the widely supported notion that global warming is leading us towards a hotter future. Sean Birkle, a climate scientist at the University of Maine and the creator of the Climate Reanalyzer, mentioned that while the daily figures are unofficial, they offer valuable insights into the current state of a warming planet.

Although these figures are not official government records, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief scientist Sarah Kapnick stated that they will be considered for the official record calculations. Kapnick believes that when considering other data, this year’s temperatures likely represent the hottest day in several hundred years.

The increasing frequency of daily high-temperature records indicates that climate change is pushing us into unknown territory. On Wednesday, 38 million Americans were under some form of heat alert. Even communities unaccustomed to such heat, like North Grenville in Ontario, had to convert ice hockey rinks into cooling centers due to temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) and feeling like 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) due to humidity.

Although the average temperature records may not seem extraordinarily hot, many places are experiencing temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Tuesday’s global high was nearly 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) higher than the average from 1979 to 2000, which already surpassed the averages of the 20th and 19th centuries.

Several regions, including Quebec, Peru, and Beijing, have recently broken high-temperature records. Beijing had nine consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and suspended outdoor work due to forecasted high temperatures. Cities across the United States, from Medford, Oregon to Tampa, Florida, have been experiencing all-time high temperatures.

The impact of this heatwave is evident, with Seminole County in Florida activating their extreme weather plan more days this year than the previous year. Alan Harris, the director of emergency management for Seminole County, described the ongoing brutal heat, which is expected to continue for another two weeks.

Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings have been issued for various regions in the United States, including Oregon, California, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, and the coastal Carolinas. The intensifying heatwave reflects the urgent need for climate action and underscores the significant challenges posed by global warming.

[Note: Some minor modifications have been made for clarity and brevity.]

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• University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer: Climate Reanalyzer
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• Seminole County, Florida: Seminole County, Florida
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