Record heat in July, exceeding 50 degrees in 10 countries

The UN raises the alarm and the secretary general explains that these temperatures put "everyone in danger".The 22nd was the worst day

ROME - “The Earth is getting hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.” This is the alarm raised by the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, who in Geneva commented on the July data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN agency specialized in studying the climate.

According to what the organization reports in a note, “Extreme heat affected hundreds of millions of people throughout July, with a domino effect felt throughout society”.Always recorded in July “the hottest day”:on July 22, according to data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The reasons for the peak in temperatures, the researchers clarify, are being analyzed, but one of the factors could be temperatures hovered around 10°C, which is much above average, in much of Antarctica, as well as in some parts of the Southern Ocean.Celeste Saulo, general secretary of the agency informs:“In the last year, widespread, intense and extensive heat waves have hit all continents. At least ten countries recorded daily temperatures above 50°C in more than one location.It's getting too hot to handle."

The manager cites Death Valley in California, where “it was recorded a record average monthly temperature of 42.5°C.Even the distant ice sheets of Antarctica have felt the heat.Climate adaptation - the manager's appeal - alone is not enough.We must make a serious effort to reduce record levels of greenhouse gas emissions."

RECORD TEMPERATURES IN CHINA AND JAPAN

The study details extreme temperatures:in Morocco, in Africa, the heat wave on certain days led the thermometer to reach 41.7°C in Nouasseur, 43.4°C in Chefchaouen and even 47.6°C in Marrakech.In Japan, the average temperature in July was the highest ever recorded since 1898, also beating last year's record.In recent days, daily maximum temperatures have risen above 38°C.

Record July also in China since 1961, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C in many locations in eastern China, and the second hottest July on record for India.Heat waves also occurred in Pakistan and Iran, where the Tehran government had to close schools.

IN EUROPE THINGS ARE NOT BETTER

In Europe things are no better:the UN Agency cites a study by World Weather Attribution according to which the Mediterranean heat wave recorded in Italy, but also Greece, Spain, Portugal, France and Morocco, “would not have occurred without human-induced climate change.” Furthermore, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria reported the hottest July on record.

IN THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN 80 PEAKS IN TEMPERATURE

Finally, in the United States in July more than 80 record temperature peaks were recorded, while in the South American winter some countries recorded temperatures more typical of summer, with the thermometer reaching above 30°C and even above 35°C in some areas of Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina.

Saul adds:“The WMO responded to the appeal of the United Nations Secretary General by providing early warnings and action plans for heat-related health.Recent estimates - continues the general secretary - carried out by our agency in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the global increase in health alert systems for heat for just 57 countries has the potential to save around 98 thousand lives per year.This is one of the priorities of the Early Warnings For All initiative,” he concluded.