July 2021 Was the Hottest Month Ever
It’s been an abnormally warm summer this year, to say the least. And July 2021 didn’t just set the record for the warmest July in history, it also set the record for the hottest month in history.
And this is following the hottest June in North America.
According to NOAA, the temperature was 1.68F above the twentieth-century average. This not only affected the land, but also the oceans, which we can definitely see as the number of named tropical storms continues to increase.
And during this time, multiple regions around the world experienced record-shattering temperatures.
This Is Just the Beginning
The planet is getting warmer. It’s a fact that cannot be argued.
The impact of climate change is being felt today, and the situation will only get worse in the coming years. Even though many nations have made significant climate pledges, it is far too slow. Some nations, like China, are not even going to make net-zero by 2050.
In fact, the latest report from the IPCC stated that it is almost impossible to reach the Paris Agreements goal.
The longer it takes, the hotter it will get. Thus, I doubt July 2021 will hold the hottest month title for an extended period of time.
This Hurricane Season is Very Active
You might have also noticed that this year has had a very active hurricane season. This is because the water temperature is rising as a result.
For those unaware, hurricanes form over warm water. To be more specific, the water temperature must reach 82F, and the warmer the water, the stronger the storm. Because the water is warming faster, the season is beginning earlier than normal.
This year, we have already seen seven tropical storms and one hurricane.
The hotter it gets, the more likely the storms are to form. It is also creating more situations where the storms may strengthen again after making landfall. Overall, it will cost nations billions as the seasons get worse.
Heatwaves Are the Most Deadly Weather
While hurricanes are typically what people think of when it comes to extreme weather that can kill, they have nothing on heatwaves.
Or, as doctors call them, silent killers.
The Northwest heatwave has been sweltering, to say the least, and it has claimed a lot lives. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the preliminary number of deaths is 117.
The human body can only cope with warm temperatures for so long. Unless you take the necessary precautions, the heat can and will kill you. And with temperatures expected to get higher in the future, that number will grow.
And it’s not just deadly to humans.
Both animals and agriculture will also suffer from the high temperatures. For instance, ocean temperatures are getting too hot for Coral to survive. It will likely be close to extinction by 2050.
In terms of agriculture, this could actually result in certain plants failing to grow in warmer regions. Not to mention it will lower the nutritional value of our food.
This could definitely raise the death toll significantly.
Robert has been following and writing about environmental stories for years at GreenGeeks. He believes that highlighting environmentally friendly practices can help promote change in every household.
