Western Europe experienced its "hottest June and July combined on record" since temperature tracking began, according to a European observatory, against the backdrop of worsening climate change.
اضافة اعلان
Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with the first two summer months marked by consecutive heatwaves, scorching temperatures, and severe drought conditions.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the average combined temperature in Western Europe during June and July reached 21.62°C, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 for the same period.
Copernicus considered this a reflection of the "exceptional persistence of heat" so far this summer.
The European observatory added that soil moisture levels were "substantially lower" than in July 2022, when Western Europe was struck by its last severe drought.
Copernicus also noted that ocean temperatures reached record highs for the second consecutive month in July, driven by marine heatwaves around Europe and the formation of a strong El Niño in the Pacific Ocean.
Globally, average sea surface temperatures in July reached 20.96°C, breaking the previous record set in 2023.
On a global scale, Copernicus stated that last month tied with another year as the second-hottest July on record, with the average surface air temperature sitting 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), the baseline benchmark used to measure global warming today.
The Copernicus service relies on satellite data as well as weather stations on land and at sea, with records dating back to 1940.
AFP
