The new NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) report comes on the heels of the U.N. climate report, released last week, which warned of the “extreme” impacts of climate change, already and continuing to be felt around the globe. The increasing temperatures have been linked to not-so-welcome heatwaves, obviously, but also to the more intense weather systems like hurricanes and droughts.
In a statement to CBS News, NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad commented on the latest alarming record; “July is typically the world’s warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself as the hottest July and month ever recorded. This new record adds to the disturbing and disruptive path that climate change has set for the globe.”
The calculation of the average global temperature was arrived at by measuring data from satellites, buoys, weather balloons and various other sources, daily and hourly, and then inputting that information into proprietary computer models.
Photo / The Copernicus Program
Next, the results were compared with other measurements taken by various similar climate research agencies around the world.
In case you are wondering, more modern and accurate global average temperature records have been kept for approximately 100 years. General record keeping goes back much further, for example, the recent heatwave in Europe broke high temperature marks dating to the 1500s, according to the Climatology Institute in Potsdam, Germany.
The warmest previous July in history was in 2016 and global average temperatures in July this year were at least as high, if not higher. Northern latitudes had particularly high temps, compared to the average from 1981-2010 including, Alaska, Baffing Island, parts of Siberia, and also, Iran as well as large parts of Antarctica.
Photo / Adobe Stock
Extreme Measures During Euro-Heatwave Required:
Heat across Europe was extreme and caused disruption and dismay during it’s recent severe heatwaves, in June and again in July.
It got so hot in Antwerp, Belgium, for example, that 2 suspected drug smugglers called the police to rescue them, after they accidentally locked themselves into a scorching hot shipping container, which also happened to be filled with cocaine.
Better than death by frying, apparently.
In areas of Germany, known for it’s stretches of autobahn without speed limits, limits were put in place, for the first time, in order to prevent cars from overheating and even damaging the roads themselves, while operating at high speeds.
In the Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium, bears were fed watermelons encased in blocks of ice, to keep them from potentially suffering heatstroke.
A wildfire burns in western Greenland on July 31, 2019. (Photo Credit / Orla Joelsen via Twitter)
Ice on Fire: This is Real
Arctic wildfires; yes, wildfires where there was once nothing but snow and ice, struck again. Again, that is, after a series of fires were reported in western Greenland in 2017.
Over 100 intense wildfires in the Arctic Circle were tracked by CAMS, part of the Copernicus program mentioned above, during June and July, 2019.
In June the fires caused 50 megatons of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere, as much as the total yearly emissions for Sweden. Shortly thereafter in July, during the European heatwave, melting ice, also in Greenland, sent 197 billion tons of water into the Atlantic.
They call this a “melt event” and this summer there have been several of the largest on record, since at least 1950. Not because there was more melting in 1950, but because records have only been kept since that year.
It may well take years of these “melt events” to combine together and raise the world sea level, and endanger coastal cities around the globe, but if it is happening at all, that is alarming, in and of itself.
Since these kinds of ice melt events, such as we experienced this year, and a previous extreme event in 2012, are thought to occur only approximately every 250 years, therefore, already having seen two in less than a decade is a strong indicator that climate change is increasing the frequency of these, and many other anomalous weather patterns.
Last weekend it was New York, Boston and much of the rest of the US that was in a dire situation due to dangerous temperatures. Then, Europe took its turn. Twice. Anecdotal evidence builds, seemingly by the day, that the climate crisis is accelerating. Below we feature stories with a little more detail on the heat this week:
In the second extreme weather event so far this summer, Paris, hit an all time record high on Thursday, after the recent, record breaking heatwave in June. This time, the thermometer hit an unheard of 108.6 degrees Fahrenheit (which is 42.4 Celsius) and, since 30 degrees Celsius is considered extreme heat in Europe, this is a truly astonishing stat.
The blistering barrage is being felt as far west as Texas and north to Canada and even Alaska. The Great Lakes region and as far as Colorado and Kansas are also being affected.<p> The wave is being seen as a worsening of summer extremes related to the climate crisis. This, after France and Europe experienced all time record high temperatures and even the arctic seas are being monitored at unheard of temps.
Man refreshing himself in Public square under summer high temperature with Fire-hydrant
A week and a day after the metropolis endured a blackout affecting hundreds of thousands due to a transformer fire, another power outage has affected up to fifty thousand throughout Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx.
While New York City might seem to experience a heat wave almost every summer, while perhaps not of the intensity we’ve seen lately, Europe, most definitely, does not.
In the second extreme weather event so far this summer, Paris, hit an all time record high on Thursday, after the recent, record breaking heatwave in June. This time, the thermometer hit an unheard of 108.6 degrees Fahrenheit (which is 42.4 Celsius) and, since 30 degrees Celsius is considered extreme heat in Europe, this is a truly astonishing stat.
The highest temps ever recorded also went into the books in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium causing extreme distress and discomfort and potentially dangerous conditions.
Climate-change Becoming More Likely As Cause
In the past 17 years, with records being shattered seemingly on a yearly basis, a trend has been noted, with all the most extreme temperatures occurring during that span. Climate change, due to the influence of mankind, is becoming more difficult to doubt as the most likely cause.
While a direct link is not 100% traceable, the statistical likelihood of more extreme events happening is clearly rising, according to experts. According to the climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, the five years with the most extreme summer heat, since the year 1500, were all recorded since the year 2000.
The situation is considered life threatening all across Europe with London hitting record high temperatures, also.
When northern France has the same temperature as Death Valley in the summer, that is a serious and alarming trend. Not only because that is a standard for the most extreme heat on earth, but more so because Europe has, historically, a milder climate overall than much of the world, relative to its latitude.
While seeing the temperature rise to above 100 degrees in not uncommon in many parts of the USA, in particular the South and Midwest, as well as the deserts of the Southwest, Europe is buffeted and, in normal times, cooler in summer and warmer in winter, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream.
Death Valley-like Heat in Traditionally Mild Europe Sending Shockwaves
In Europe, unlike in the US, many homes and even business, in particular restaurants where tourists congregate during the summer months, do not have air conditioning. Even refrigeration of food is, in many home, much less of a “given” than here in the US. Many apartments have only small units and the internal temps are set warmer than would be the case in the US.
Partly cultural, with grocery shopping a daily ritual and fresh food a “must have”, this kind of extreme weather will be felt, in some ways, far more that an equivalent heat event in many parts of the US, such as we had last week on the East Coast.
This cultural expectation of mild weather is a real factor in the danger and seriousness of these events in Europe, making then even more concerning than similar situations like we had last weekend in the US. The UK’s national weather service went so far as to state that “Climate change has increased the likelihood and severity of heatwave episodes across Europe”.
In France, the ministry of health warned people to stay home and avoid commuting or travel of any kind, where ever possible.
A week and a day after the metropolis endured a blackout affecting hundreds of thousands due to a transformer fire, another power outage has affected up to fifty thousand throughout Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx
Those affected lost power at around 6pm, with the heat level still at over one hundred degrees, and the cause was said to be “strain” and equipment failure.
All of this, after a weekend of record high temperatures across the eastern US and Midwest. The blistering barrage was felt as far west as Texas and north to Canada and even Alaska. The Great Lakes region and as far as Colorado and Kansas have been affected
Crews are responding to approximately 33,000 outages in the southeast #Brooklyn neighborhoods of Canarsie, Flatlands, Mill Basin, Old Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, and Georgetown due to continued heat and high usage. https://t.co/jq25kLSqKapic.twitter.com/fn5GdVRJOv
After Hellish Weekend Worst Should Abate Next Week
Practically the entire east coast and most of the Midwest are sweltering in an intense humidity enhanced wave of record temperatures.
Large outdoor events such as festivals and even the NYC Triathlon were cancelled. A heat emergency was declared in Boston, anticipating a rise in heat related health and safety issues.
They are taking this seriously in New York, and have set up 500 “cooling centers” around the city.
Look at the impressive and widespread coverage of #heat related warnings and advisories across the Eastern two-thirds of the country. The hazy, hot and humid conditions will persist through the weekend. Be smart and stay cool! #HeatSafetypic.twitter.com/hemIJ79rOr
Also in NYC, after various electricity related problems and the blackout last weekend, the 5 boroughs are on edge with massive demand from air conditioning and cooling appliances expected to stress the system further. Washington D.C. and Chicago are anticipating the same dangers to their systems due to the high demand.
Man is refreshing himself in Public square under summer high temperature with Fire hydrant water
The blistering barrage is being felt as far west as Texas and north to Canada and even Alaska. The Great Lakes region and as far as Colorado and Kansas are also being affected
New York City: today will be very hot and could be the start of a heatwave through Sunday. Prepare for temperatures in the 90s with a heat index over 100 degrees!
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) July 19, 2019
The entire weekend is expected to remain hot, with possible relief coming as soon as Monday, as many areas of the US are expecting rain to start the work week ahead.
The wave is being seen as a worsening of summer extremes related to the climate crisis. After France and Europe experienced all time record high temperatures and even the arctic seas are being monitored at unheard of temps.
To Stay Cool, The Key is to Fight Back with Awareness: A Few Tips to Reduce the Danger
Stay Out Of It
This is obvious and sometimes not possible if you work outdoors, but it is important to alter your routine and stay low. Simply avoiding the heat by staying indoors or maximizing shade will at least reduce the temperatures that you are exposed to. If you are stuck in a place that is oppressively hot you can at least try to work with your body to stay cool.
Hydration
Water is paramount and this is the most obvious way to help your body stay cool. Iced peppermint tea can also give a cooling lift.
Homemade AC
A throwback to days before widespread electricity, a makeshift “swamp-cooler” can be devised using pre-frozen filled plastic water bottles on the floor in front of a fan.
Nighttime Tricks to Sleep Cool
Cooling your bed and your body before bed can help enhance your rest during the stress. The so-called “Egyptian Method” uses cold water sprinkled on sheets before laying down to help your body fight back. The new twist on this is to take your folded sheets and put the I’m the freezer for 30 minutes before laying them out.
Beware of Baking Car Interiors
Cars are heat collectors and generators, unless necessary, it’s better to stay our of them, naturally the AC is a natural attraction, but the heat all around the car will rise and inside, without ac will likely be hotter than the surrounding temps. Obviously, leaving pets or children (!) in a parked car is a recipe for disaster.
If You are Out In it or have Special Health Issues, Get Help
Big cities have emergencies “Cooling Centers” set up and across the country city governments and city service workers are on alert to help those in need. If we stick together and reach out to lend a hand we’ll all make it cool into next week, when the temperatures are expected to come down.
