Hottest Day In The World Recorded On July 21

UNSPLASH/LUCIAN ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Sunday, July 21 is the hottest day ever recorded, according to preliminary data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, which has been tracking global weather patterns since 1940.

Global average surface air temperature on Sunday reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit) slightly higher than the previous record recorded in July of 17.08 C (62.74 F) as heat waves hit large parts of the United States, Europe and Russia.

Carlo Buontho, service director of CORONISH, said earlier this week, hot temperatures may surpass Sunday's record as heat waves continue to hit the whole world, reported by Reuters, Tuesday, July 23.

Last year, four consecutive days broke records, from July 3 to July 6, when climate change, caused by burning fossil fuels, caused extreme heat in the northern hemisphere.

Although Sunday's record temperature was only slightly higher than last year's figure, What's amazing is how different temperatures have been in the last 13 months compared to previous records," Buontempo said.

Every month since June 2023 has now been ranked the hottest on the planet since the recording began, compared to the same month in previous years.

Some scientists estimate 2024 could surpass 2023 as the hottest year since records began, as climate change and natural weather phenomenon El Nino ending in April has pushed the temperature even higher this year.

"As a consequence of the increasing greenhouse gas in the atmosphere we will see a new record broken in the next few months, in the next few years," Buontempo said.

Scientists and environmental activists have long called on global leaders and rich countries to stop dependence on fossil fuels to prevent the impact of climate change, including rising heat waves.