The summer of 2023 has brought with it a record-breaking heatwave. The planet experienced three consecutive days of scorching heat, shattering previous temperature records. And sounding a warning alarm for the escalating climate crisis.
As regions across the world endured dangerous heat, Earth reached its highest temperature ever recorded by human-made instruments.
According to data from the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the average global temperature soared to a staggering 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.92 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, coinciding with the Fourth of July celebrations in the United States.
The same record high was tied on Wednesday when temperatures once again reached identical levels.
The previous record was set on Monday with average global temperatures measuring at 16.2 degrees Celsius (61.16 degrees Fahrenheit). However, it took just one day for this temperature to be surpassed, underscoring the rapidity of the Earth’s warming trend.
Record-breaking heatwave spurred by El Niño
Scientists attribute the scorching heatwave to a combination of El Niño and the persistent emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
