What the ‘hottest day on record’ really means
As temperatures soar to unprecedented heights, the term 'hottest day on record' frequently makes headlines. But what does it truly signify? Let's delve into the science behind these record-breaking temperatures and their implications for our planet.
Some record-breakers in history are questionable, but climate change definitely isn’t
Death Valley in California
- The hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the US and is no stranger to intense heat
- On Friday, July 9, the high temperature reached a scorching 130 degrees Fahrenheit, one of the highest recorded temperatures of all time.
How we record temperatures
Temperature data has been collected automatically in Automated Surface Observing Systems since the mid-90s
- There are over 900 of these systems throughout the US, and on average report weather data around every 20 minutes
- But the thermometer that records temperatures all day every day from stations around the world isn’t exactly like the ones you might have outside your house
- Official weather-taking thermometers need to be shielded from the sun and wind, and have what looks like little lampshades on them so that they can measure the actual surface temperature without being influenced by other sources
- Occasionally, occasional errors are completely within expectation
- How could a person record such a high temperature by accident?
Why does this matter?
Although our systems are much more accurate nowadays, there’s still a chance that our modern systems may mess up.
- Temperature records are being broken more and more often in a pattern, we cannot ignore-temperatures are rising worldwide, and the entire planet is now experiencing the wrath of intensified weather
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