TRENTON, NJ – Temperatures across the New Jersey tri-state area peaked last week and that peak was connected to a report by the University of Maine claiming the world broke a 72-hour heat wave record.
One government agency is questioning that report.
Several media outlets recently reported that July 3-5 constituted the hottest 72-hour stretch ever recorded, citing a computer model from the University of Maine. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has cautioned against relying solely on the model, as it is not as reliable as traditional observational data.
Publications such as The New York Times, Fortune, Axios, and CBS News referenced the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer computer model in their reports, claiming that global temperatures during that period broke previous records. Meanwhile, NOAA emphasized that the model’s findings cannot substitute for observational data, as the model incorporates unverifiable, computer-generated outputs.
For instance, Axios declared in its headline that “Earth sees three hottest days on record,” and The New York Times stated that “the past three days were quite likely the hottest in Earth’s modern history.” CBS News used a chyron proclaiming “Earth sees third straight hottest day on record,” while Fortune’s headline highlighted that “Earth hits record heat third day in a row.”
NOAA acknowledged that although it cannot validate the methodology or conclusions of the University of Maine analysis, it acknowledges that the world is currently experiencing a warm period due to climate change.
The University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer model utilizes observational data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to estimate global temperatures. NCEP is a division of the National Weather Service, which falls under NOAA.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the heat and stated that climate change appears to be spiraling out of control, emphasizing the need for urgent action to prevent a catastrophic situation.