Planet endured hottest July in history, World Meteorological Organization

Saturday, August 3, 2019

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that the planet has endured what may have been the hottest July in history. European heat wave shattered all-time records in July. The month’s first 29 days were marginally warmer or on par with July 2016, the previous hottest July when average temperatures over land and ocean were 0.87C (1.57F) above the 20th-century average, according to WMO and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data.

U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization found that the previous month was the warmest June on record globally. Scientists have linked the warming planet to man-made climate change, predicting a rise in temperatures of 1.5C (2.7F) between 2030 and 2052 if global warming continues apace.

Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are chiefly responsible for climate change, according to scientific consensus.

NOAA defines July’s global 20th century average for land and ocean surfaces at 15.8C (60.4F). Heat waves “consistent with what we expect from climate change” scorched Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Britain with new national temperature records last week.

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations’ (U.N.) secretary-general, said the record temperatures based on provisional data were a reminder of the need to “take action on climate change now”.

Heat wave as had impact on travel and tourism.

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