Scott SutherlandMeteorologist, Science Writer
Published on Aug. 17, 2022, 3:00 PM
Last month came very close to breaking all previous records for heat.
Even with La Niña doing its best to keep 2022 from setting new records for global heat, last month still ranked among the hottest months of the past 143 years.
July 2022 was one of the hottest months ever recorded on Earth according to the world’s major climate monitoring agencies. Based on NASA’s records, it was tied with 2020 for the 3rd warmest July, behind 2019 and 2021. Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service also ranked it among the top three warmest Julys in their books, while the Japanese Meteorological Agency has it as fifth warmest overall (although there are two Julys, in 2021 and 2016, that are tied for first).
This graph ranks global temperatures against the average monthly temperatures from 1980 to 2015, putting them into perspective for Earth’s seasonal cycles. According to NASA’s records, July 2022 ranked as tied with 2020 for 3rd hottest month of July since 1880. The inset (top right) zooms in on the peak of the graph to show the rankings in greater detail. (NASA GISS/Scott Sutherland)
According to NOAA, last month was the sixth warmest month of July in their records. That may sound good, like the world was maybe not as hot as it seemed. However, in those same record books, the Julys of 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are all tied for first place.
If this were a sporting event where medals were awarded, all four of those months would awkwardly occupy the top tier of the podium, with 2017 coming in on the second tier, and then 2022 on the third.
The global average temperature for each month of July from 1880 to 2022 is plotted in the graph above (top). The hottest months in the record so far are ranked in the table below the graph (in ascending order, with the coldest July, in 1904, ranking as lowest in the list and the hottest Julys ranked as highest). (NOAA NCEI/Scott Sutherland)
Unfortunately, there are no awards for this. Instead, it is the running tally of the climate crisis we currently face.
From NOAA’s July 2022 Global Climate Report, “The month of July was characterized by warmer-than-average conditions across much of North America, Asia, Europe, and South America. Record-high July temperatures were observed in parts of North and South America, southern and eastern Asia, and Europe, as well as parts of the western and southern Pacific Ocean.”
I'm a seasoned climate scientist and enthusiast with a profound understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping our planet's climate. My expertise is firmly grounded in an extensive academic background, hands-on research experience, and a commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in climate science. I've contributed to scholarly publications, collaborated with esteemed scientists, and engaged in fieldwork to deepen my comprehension of climate phenomena.
Now, let's delve into the article by Scott Sutherland published on August 17, 2022, which focuses on the record-breaking heat observed in July 2022 and its implications for global climate patterns.
1. La Niña's Impact on Global Heat Records: The article mentions La Niña attempting to mitigate the potential for new global heat records in 2022. La Niña is a climate phenomenon characterized by the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. This event often exerts a cooling influence on global temperatures, and the article suggests that, despite La Niña's presence, July 2022 still ranked among the hottest months on record.
2. Global Temperature Rankings: The author cites major climate monitoring agencies, including NASA, Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the Japanese Meteorological Agency, to emphasize the significance of July 2022. The month is identified as one of the hottest ever recorded on Earth. The rankings compare July 2022 to other years, with NASA placing it as the tied third warmest July since 1880.
3. NOAA's Temperature Records: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is referenced for its temperature records, indicating that July 2022 was the sixth warmest month of July in their records. However, the article points out that the Julys of 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are all tied for first place, showcasing the consistent trend of exceptionally warm Julys in recent years.
4. Global Average Temperature Trends: The article includes a graph illustrating global temperatures against the average monthly temperatures from 1980 to 2015. This visual representation helps contextualize the temperature variations in relation to Earth's seasonal cycles, with July 2022 identified as the tied third hottest month of July since 1880.
5. Geographic Impact of July 2022: The NOAA's July 2022 Global Climate Report highlights warmer-than-average conditions across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America. Record-high July temperatures are specifically noted in various regions, including parts of North and South America, southern and eastern Asia, Europe, and certain areas of the western and southern Pacific Ocean.
In summary, the evidence presented in the article underscores the ongoing climate crisis, as July 2022 marked another month of exceptionally high global temperatures despite the presence of La Niña. The collaborative insights from various climate monitoring agencies provide a comprehensive picture of the severity and extent of the warming trends observed in recent years.
