Rabat – Earth has recorded a new unofficial record high for average global temperatures on Thursday, reaching a global average of over 17 degrees Celsius.
Alarmingly, this is the third time that the data breaks the temperature record in a single week, according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, which uses satellite data to analyze global climate conditions.
The analysis included regions such as the Arctic region which reached an uncharacteristically high 4.5 degrees.
This summer, like others in recent years, is threatening to be one of the hottest on record, prompting governments around the world to issue warnings to their citizens to take precautions against heat waves and avoid outdoor activity.
The record temperatures, along with other phenomena such as the shrinking Antarctic sea ice and increasing instances of wildfires, are causing some scientists to worry that the Earth’s climate might be past the point of no return.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that “climate change is out of control,” referring to the record temperatures.
“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,” Guterres states.
The return of the El Nino climate event in 2023, which is believed to be responsible for raising global temperatures, is causing scientists to be concerned that this year will be the hottest on record.
The last time El Nino occurred was in 2016, which continues to be the hottest year on record.
Scientists have also warned that the Antarctic sea ice is shrinking to record lows, which could end up harming ecosystems and lead to more domino effects around the globe, such as rising sea levels.
