Historical Record: Warmest Month July | News

July this year was 0.72 degrees warmer than the average temperature for a month during the period 1991-2020, and 0.33 degrees warmer than July 2019, which set the previous heat record.

Looking back, July this year was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than average for the years 1850-1900, according to Copernicus.

Heatwaves have been observed in several places in the northern hemisphere, including southern Europe. Temperatures that were well above average were also measured in many countries in South America and Antarctica.

The seas are also warm

Meanwhile, ocean surface water temperatures rose after being unusually high since April, reaching new highs in July. The North Atlantic was 1.05 degrees warmer than average. Marine heat waves have been measured, for example, south of Greenland and in the Mediterranean Sea.

The naturally occurring El Niño weather phenomenon is getting stronger and is expected to give the overall average temperature another push higher.

“We just witnessed how global temperatures in the air and in ocean surface waters broke new records in July. These records have devastating consequences for both humans and our planet, which experiences extreme events frequently,” says Samantha Burgess, Copernicus Deputy Director.

“It illustrates the need for ambitious efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, which are the biggest cause of these records,” Burgess continues.

ends in Europe

In northern Europe, July this year was wetter than average in several places. At the same time, it was drier than normal in the Mediterranean region, with the largest deviations in Italy and southeastern Europe.

Copernicus’ measurements also show that the amount of sea ice in Antarctica has been 15 percent less than average since the measurements began. Arctic sea ice was just below average.