Soaring temperatures have us sweltering from coast to coast

This article was written by Seth Borenstein and Isabella O’Malley, and was published in the Toronto Star on July 7, 2023.

Sweltering heat is blanketing much of the planet, and the past seven days have been the hottest week on record, the latest grim milestone in a series of climate-change-driven extremes.

Earth’s average temperature on Wednesday remained at an unofficial record high set the day before. And for the seven-day period ending Wednesday, the daily average temperature was .04 degrees Celsius higher than any week in 44 years of record-keeping, according to data from the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, a tool that uses satellite data and computer simulations to measure the world’s condition.

The average global temperature for Tuesday and Wednesday was 17.18 C. That follows a short-lived record set Monday of 17.01 C.

The Climate Reanalyzer figures are unofficial but significant data, and an indication that climate change is reaching uncharted territory.

“The situation we are witnessing now is the demonstration that climate change is out of control,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.

“If we persist in delaying key measures that are needed, I think we are moving into a catastrophic situation, as the last two records in temperature demonstrates.”

More frequent and more intense heat waves are disrupting life around the world and causing life threatening temperatures.

Overall, one of the largest contributors to this week’s heat records is an exceptionally mild winter in the Antarctic. Parts of the continent and nearby ocean were 10 to 20 C higher than averages from 1979 to 2000.

“Temperatures have been unusual over the ocean and especially around the Antarctic this week, because wind fronts over the Southern Ocean are strong pushing warm air deeper south,” said Raghu Murtugudde, a professor of atmospheric, oceanic and earth system science at the University of Maryland.

Katharine Hayhoe, the Nature Conservancy’s chief scientist, said: “This is one more reminder of the inexorable upward trend that will only be halted by decisive actions to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, invest in nature, and achieve net zero.”

“The situation we are witnessing now is the demonstration that climate change is out of control. ANTÓNIO GUTERRES UN SECRETARYGENERAL