‘4th of July Potentially Sets New Record as Earth’s Hottest Day – Why Does It Matter?’

Instead of writing numerous articles about temperature records, I have refrained from doing so because in an era of climate warming, it becomes predictable like a game of “whack-a-mole.” With the continuous rise in temperatures, the headlines of “warmest this” or “hottest that” will become increasingly common. However, July 4th has grabbed my attention, and it’s not because of fireworks. It appears that the planet might have just experienced its hottest day on record. Now, let’s understand the implications of such an event.

Based on the daily near-surface air temperature data from NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), it is possible that the mean global temperature on July 4th, 2023 surpassed the previous record for the “hottest day” since recordkeeping began. It is important to note that I specified “since recordkeeping began.” I fully anticipate that some individuals in the social media realm will nitpick the usage of “ever” in headlines. In the upcoming weeks, scientists will work to confirm whether this record-breaking day stands.

The map above, created by utilizing the NOAA Climate Forecast System (CFS) version 2 and CFS Reanalysis, provides insights into the average global temperature on July 4th, 2023. It was developed using the University of Maine Climate Reanalyzer tool. According to NOAA-NCEP data, the average global temperature reached 62.92 degrees Fahrenheit (17.18 degrees Celsius). Before you say, “wait Dr. Shepherd, 63 degrees is not that hot,” it’s important to consider that this is the average temperature across the entire globe, with half of it currently experiencing winter.

In an article for The Washington Post, Leo Sands mentioned, “The last time the record was broken was on Monday, when the temperature was 62.62 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the same data.” Prior to this two-day span, the record was likely set on August 14th, 2016. In a tweet, climate expert Robert Rohde from the University of California cautioned that even hotter days could lie ahead.

Many scientists, including myself, have warned that 2023 has the potential to challenge previous years as the warmest year on record. The year 2023 is a convergence of climate change, the onset of El Niño, and natural warming variability associated with the northern hemisphere’s summer. In 2016, which currently holds the record for the warmest year on record, a similar scenario with an El Niño was present.

Ironically, climate scientists often have to defend against clichéd, ill-posed statements claiming that “climate changes naturally.” Of course, climate does change naturally, and climate scientists are well aware of this fact. Our hottest years demonstrate the interplay between natural variability (El Niño, summer) and anthropogenic-driven climate change, resulting in a magnified heat system on Earth. It’s not a matter of either/or but rather a combination of factors. Unfortunately, all of this falls within our expectations. A recent report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted a 66% chance that annual near surface temperatures globally could surpass the 1.5°C target between 2023 and 2027.

Moreover, the extraordinary warming is not limited to the atmosphere alone. The oceans are also absorbing excess heat to a significant extent. Professor Katharine Hayhoe’s tweet summarizes this point, stating, “Oh, and I should mention: how much of that heat has been going into the atmosphere? Just ONE PERCENT. 89% is going into the ocean, the rest into land and the cryosphere.” Hayhoe, a renowned climate expert and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, conveyed in an interview with The Guardian that the current abnormal warm temperatures in the North Atlantic are a result of years of accumulating three hundred eighty Zettajoules of excess heat. To put it into perspective, 1 Zettajoule is equal to 10^21 joules.

While the statistics regarding heat are alarming in themselves, I am equally concerned about the implications of excessive heat on tropical cyclones, sea ice, sea levels, public health, agricultural productivity, water stress, energy production, and the acceleration of crises. For these reasons, I believe it is crucial to view these “new normal” heat anomalies as threats rather than opportunities for leisurely water frolics.

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.