For the second consecutive year, August witnessed record-breaking average temperatures globally, as per preliminary data from the EU's climate monitor shared with AFP on Tuesday.
Although the precise average temperature for August 2024 remains uncertain, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has confirmed it will exceed the previous record of 16.82 degrees Celsius (62.28 Fahrenheit) set in August of the previous year. Scientists attribute these extraordinary temperatures primarily to human-induced climate change, which is exacerbating the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
Australia, Japan, several provinces in China, and Norway's Svalbard Arctic archipelago all documented their warmest August on record, according to various meteorological agencies. This follows a continuous 15-month period where each month set a new temperature record for its respective time of year, as reported by the C3S. Notably, July 2024 was slightly cooler than July 2023 according to C3S, but the US NOAA weather agency considers July 2024 the hottest month on record. Regardless, 2023 was declared the warmest year globally since record-keeping began in the 19th century by various climate monitors. Early in August, C3S cautioned that it was increasingly probable that 2024 would surpass this record. They noted that July 2024 was 1.48 C (34.66 F) warmer than the estimated average temperatures for July during the 1850-1900 period, prior to the widespread use of fossil fuels—the major driver of climate change.
Climate researchers focused on studying pre-instrumental weather patterns believe the current high temperatures are unprecedented in at least 120,000 years.
