NASA scientists have announced that July was the hottest month ever recorded in global temperature history. Compared to any other July in NASA’s records, last month was 0.43 degrees Fahrenheit hotter. A study by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York also revealed that it was 2.1 degrees warmer than the average July between 1951 and 1980.
Several regions experienced extreme heat, including parts of South America, North Africa, North America, and the Antarctic Peninsula, with temperatures soaring up to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit above the average. NASA stated that this scorching heat led to hundreds of heat-related illnesses and deaths, with millions of people under heat warnings.
NASA’s analysis showed that the five hottest Julys since 1880 have all occurred within the past five years. This unprecedented trend is alarming and is primarily driven by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
“This July was not just warmer than any previous July – it was the warmest month in our record, which goes back to 1880,” said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt. “The science is clear this isn’t normal. Alarming warming around the world is driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. And that rise in average temperatures is fueling dangerous extreme heat that people are experiencing here at home and worldwide.”
The focus of the analysis was on long-term temperature changes spanning decades and centuries. By comparing temperature data from surface air and sea surface instruments, NASA constructs its temperature record. The analysis accounts for variations in station spacing and urban heating effects.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, stating that the Earth’s warming is evident. He stressed that NASA is not just a space agency but also a climate agency. “The last nine years are the warmest on record. Mother Nature is sending us a message that we must act now to save our climate and our planet,” Nelson said. He highlighted the global nature of this issue, stating that everyone must work together to combat it.
Overall, the record-breaking temperatures observed in July further confirm the ongoing trend of human-driven warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Immediate action is needed to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and preserve the planet for future generations.
