Record-breaking heatwave grips California's Death Valley
California's Death Valley is recognized as one of the hottest places on our planet. This is confirmed by the temperature recorded here on Saturday, which was simply scorching. Although the record has not yet been broken, it is still hard to imagine such extreme heat. And with each passing month, it could get even warmer.
7:21 AM EDT, July 8, 2024
Searing heat in California's Death Valley. Thermometers registered 129°F, just 1.4°F short of the credible world record which also belongs to Death Valley and was set on July 10, 2021. At that time, 130°F was recorded here.
Some climate studies point to a different record. It was said to have occurred in Death Valley on July 10, 1913, and stands at 134°F. However, this result is highly controversial and is challenged by many. The biggest doubts arise because the measurement was not taken according to the modern guidelines of the World Meteorological Organization, which could make it credible.
It turns out that the temperature record in Death Valley could be broken in the coming days. According to the abc30.com portal, as early as next Wednesday, the temperature could exceed 129°F.
Fortunately, the searing heat from Death Valley does not threaten us, but that does not mean we have no cause for concern. We have just had the hottest year.
We gained an additional 26 warm days
An international team of scientists confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year on record. Unfortunately, the first half of this year maintains this trend. A report by organizations studying extreme weather phenomena, including Climate Central, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and World Weather Attribution, clearly indicates that almost 80 per cent of the population experienced more hot days.
Over the past year of record-shattering warmth, the average person on Earth experienced 26 more days of abnormally high temperatures than they otherwise would have, were it not for human-induced climate change, scientists emphasize.
The number of warm days in different parts of our globe varies. In some countries, it is two or three weeks warmer per year, while in others, it is already 120 additional days of higher temperatures (this is the case in Colombia, Indonesia, and Rwanda, among others).
