July 2021 was world's third-hottest July on record
Source: Asia Insurance Review | Sep 2021
The month of July 2021 was world’s third hottest July on record according to European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (Copernicus).
The months of July in 2019 and 2016 are the top two hottest July months on record. The EU report said unusually high temperatures were seen in regions from Finland to the US.
A press release by Copernicus said July 2021 joins July 2020 as the third warmest July on record globally, less than 0.1°C cooler than July 2019 and July 2016 and it was the second warmest July on record for Europe after 2010.
Copernicus’ records go back to 1950 but are cross-checked with other datasets that trace back to the mid-19th century.
The third hottest July also led to heatwaves from the Baltic to the eastern Mediterranean. Western North America continued to experience anomalously high temperatures. Several parts of Asia were also well above average.
Copernicus senior scientist Freja Vamborg told Reuters, “When we look at global temperatures, there are swings from year to year or even month to month. But ultimately, the underlying thing we see is a warming trend globally, and in most regions of the world.”
Multiple regions were beset by extreme weather events last month - in line with scientists’ consensus that global warming is making heatwaves more likely and more severe, and that a hotter planet will lead to heavier rainfall.
It is the latest milestone in a long-term warming trend that saw the last seven years rank as the world’s hottest on record, as emissions of greenhouse gases change the planet’s climate. A