HOT WATER:
More than 90% of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions has been absorbed by the oceans, sparing land, but at a severe cost to marine life
The EU’s climate monitor yesterday said that last month was the hottest single month ever recorded globally, with ocean temperatures also reaching unprecedented highs as western Europe capped its warmest summer.In response to the assessment by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the UN said that until humanity weaned off fossil fuels, the planet would only push deeper into uncharted territory.Copernicus observations go back to 1940, but other evidence — such as ice cores, tree rings and coral skeletons — allow scientists to place today’s climate against a much longer historical context.
People sit on the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris on June 20.
“Humans haven’t seen temperatures as hot as today for, arguably, at least the last 100,000 years,” European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts strategic lead for climate Samantha Burgess said.The center oversees Copernicus.
