Record heat hits globe in July
Extreme weather exacts toll on people, economy suffers huge dent Last month was the hottest month on record, with the hottest three-week period, the three hottest days, and the highest ocean temperatures during this time of the year, according to the World Meteorological Organization. July 6 was the hottest day recorded in human history with a global average temperature of 17.23 C. In South America, where the season is winter, multiple countries saw record high temperatures. In Chile, the mercury reached 38.9 C. "Unbelievable temperatures up to 38.9 C in the Chilean Andine areas in mid-winter," Extreme Temperatures Around the World posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Much more than what southern Europe just had in mid-summer at the same elevation: This event is rewriting all climatic books." Raul Cordero, a climate expert at the University of Santiago, told The Guardian: "Chile's winter is disappearing. It's not surprising that temperature records are being set all over the world. Climate change ensures these records are broken more and more frequently." Some parts of Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil also have been experiencing summer temperatures in winter with temperatures ranging between 36 C and 39 C. "Brutal winter heat in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and southern Brazil with temperatures up to 39 C," wrote Extreme Temperatures Around the World in another post on X. "For dozens (of) stations, these are records for the first half of August. For at least 5 more days, there won't be any relief and we can't rule out some 40 C's." In the arctic Bely Island of Russia, the temperature reached 26 C. In Florida, the ocean temperature hit 38 C late last month at a depth of 1.5 meters. It is believed that many reefs around the Florida Keys are now completely bleached or dead, which took only two weeks to happen. In Phoenix, Arizona, the temperature broke records with more than 30 consecutive days of daily high temperatures exceeding 43 C. "For vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa and Europe, it is a cruel summer," said Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations. "For the entire planet, it is a disaster. And for scientists, it is unequivocal humans are to blame. All this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings. The only surprise is the speed of the change." The extreme heat has kept many people indoors. Such behavioral change is making a big dent on the US economy. According to a recent study by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, excessive heat is estimated to cost the United States $100 billion a year in reduced productivity alone. That does not factor in issues such as the heat's effects on tourism, infrastructure, healthcare costs and energy costs. The cost will increase as climate change accelerates, the study said, projecting the annual productivity loss to reach about $200 billion by 2030 and $500 billion by 2050. Agriculture is most vulnerable to climate change. The center found that extreme heat from lost corn yields led to a drop of $720 million in annual revenue, which is projected to reach $1.7 billion annually by 2030. In addition, cattle die in extreme heat. In June, Kansas officials said they were aware of at least 2,000 cattle deaths resulting from the heat. Iowa and Nebraska also have reported large numbers of cattle deaths last month. Texas, Mississippi and Alabama will face the biggest heat-related economic losses in the coming decades because of their types of industries and temperatures, the study said. A recent analysis by Gusto, a payroll processing company in San Francisco, showed that in Texas, outdoor-dependent small and medium-sized businesses have experienced a 20 percent drop in the average employee's weekly working hours as of July 15. In Arizona, the drop was 10 percent. Texas could potentially lose $9.5 billion GDP from heat this year. The heat is taking a toll on people too. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracker showed that in the week ending July 22, regions of California, Nevada and Arizona saw more than 1,258 emergency visits associated with heat-related illness out of 100,000 emergency visits. Regions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana saw more than 900 such visits out of 100,000. Heat is also killing people. According to the medical examiner of Maricopa County, which includes the cities of Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale, 39 people have been confirmed to have died of heat complications as of Aug 1, with another 312 heat deaths waiting to be confirmed because of an administrative backlog. Low-income people are most vulnerable to heat because they are more likely unable to pay for electricity and/or own an air conditioning unit. They tend to live in denser areas with less green space and experience higher average temperatures, numerous studies suggest.