A global surge of heat

The Taylor Swift ticketing debacle has received more coverage, but here’s some other news as reported by The New York Times . . . best not to look up. 

Heat records fall around the globe

The past three days were quite likely the hottest in Earth’s modern history, scientists said, as an astonishing surge of heat across the globe continued to shatter temperature records from North America to Antarctica.

The surge of heat came just after the planet experienced its warmest June ever recorded, researchers said, with deadly heat waves scorching Texas, Mexico and India. Off the coasts of Antarctica, sea ice levels this year have plummeted to record lows.

On Tuesday, global average temperatures climbed to 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 17 Celsius, making it the hottest day Earth had experienced since at least 1940, when records began. The sharp jump in temperatures has been unsettling even to scientists who have been tracking climate change.

What’s next: More heat is most likely on the way. The spike comes as forecasters warn that Earth could be entering a multiyear period of exceptional warmth driven by two main factors: continued emissions of heat-trapping gases, mainly caused by humans burning oil, gas and coal; and the return of El Niño, a cyclical weather pattern.

 - SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES