Rio de Janeiro, Brazil felt up to 62.3 degrees Celsius, a new temperature record

The actual temperature in the city of six million people reached 42 degrees Celsius on Sunday. An extreme event due to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon affecting Latin America.

Temperatures hit record highs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this weekend, as rain threatens the south of the country due to a heat wave that has hit South America since the start of the year. “Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Hydrate!”He gave a warning On that day The Rio Municipal Warning System reported a perceived temperature of 62.3°C on Sunday March 17 at 9:55 a.m. local time in the western district of Guaratiba, after 60.1°C the previous day. In 2014.

Rio's west side is made up of poor, outlying and poorly served neighborhoods, home to more than 40% of the city's population of more than six million. With a maximum actual temperature of 42°C on Sunday, the perceived temperature rose to 57.7°C in the residential area of ​​the botanical garden in the south of Rio, but privileged with its abundance of plants. Rio's iconic Ipanema and Copacabana beaches were packed with people on Sunday. Many have also taken refuge in Tijuca Park, a true green lung of the city.

Experts attribute these extreme events and weather instability to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon that affects the southern cone of Latin America in mid-summer. The current climate has already warmed by about 1.2°C compared to 1850–1900, leading to increased episodes of droughts, floods and heat waves.

Since the 19th century, the Earth's average temperature has warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius. Scientists have firmly established that this increase is due to human activities consuming fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). This warming, unprecedented in its pace, threatens the future of our communities and biodiversity. But solutions — renewable energies, moderation, reduced meat consumption — exist. Find answers to your questions about the climate crisis.