The world experienced the hottest summer on record by a significant margin

As heat waves continue to scorch parts of the world, scientists say this scorching, deadly summer is the hottest on record by a significant margin. According to data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, June to August was the warmest period on the planet since records began in 1940.

The hottest summer in history occurred

According to Copernicus, the global average temperature this summer was 16.77 degrees Celsius. This value, which was 0.66 degrees Celsius above the 1990-2020 average, surpassed the previous record set in August 2019 by approximately 0.3 degrees Celsius. These records, which track the average air temperature around the world, are usually broken with an increase of one hundredth of a degree. So these are serious changes.

This summer has seen record-breaking heat waves and unprecedented ocean temperatures for much of the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, Europe and parts of Japan. You can look at the table below to understand how “severe” these intense temperatures are.

In 2023, the world first experienced the hottest June in history and then the hottest July in history. Both surpassed previous records by large margins. According to new data from Copernicus, August was also the hottest month on record, hotter than all other months except July this year. The global average temperature for the month stood at 16.82 degrees Celsius – 0.31 degrees warmer than the previous record set in 2016.

According to Copernicus, both July and August are estimated to be 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, a key threshold that scientists have long warned the world must stay below to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change. However, according to Copernicus, ocean temperatures every day from late July to late August exceeded the previous record set in 2016.

On the other hand, according to Copernicus, with four months left in the year, 2023 currently ranks as the second hottest year on record, just 0.01 degrees Celsius below 2016, the hottest year on record. Scientists say next year will be even warmer, given the arrival of El Niño, a natural climate fluctuation that brings higher-than-average sea surface temperatures and affects weather patterns.