July 2019 was the hottest month on record globally with a year of many record-breaking temperatures as heatwaves hit many parts of the world.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tallied up global land and sea temperature recordings from 2019’s seventh month and compared them to its 140-year data. The global average temperature for the month was 1.71 degrees Fahrenheit (0.95 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average of 60.4 F (15.8 C). It was 0.05 F (0.03 C) warmer than the previous record, set in July 2016.
There were many record-breaking temperatures recorded in parts of North and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the southern half of Africa, portions of the western Pacific Ocean, western Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Sea ice in the Arctic hit the lowest point ever seen during the month of July, and Antarctic ice was much lower than usual at 4.3 percent below the 1981-2010 average
However, some saw the opposite occur with parts of Scandinavia, as well as western and eastern Russia, being down by 2.7 degrees.
Scientists say the upward trend will likely continue because of man-made climate change.
Which, if that’s true, that means we’ll need to make some changes.