The new hottest place on Earth: Death Valley, California
As any weather aficionado can avow, Earth's most iconic weather record has long been the legendary all-time hottest temperature of 58°C (136.4°F) measured 90 years ago today at El Azizia, Libya on September 13, 1922. One hundred thirty six degrees! It's difficult to comprehend that heat like that could exist on our planet. For 90 years, no place on Earth has come close to beating the unbelievable 136 degree reading from Al Azizia, and for good reason--the record is simply not believable. But Earth's mightiest weather record has been officially cast down. Today, the official arbiter of Earth's weather records, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), announced that the all-time heat record held for exactly 90 years by El Azizia in Libya "is invalid because of an error in recording the temperature." The WMO committee found five major problems with the measurement. Most seriously, the temperature was measured in a paved courtyard over a black, asphalt-like material by a new and inexperienced observer, not trained in the use of an unsuitable replacement instrument that could be easily misread. The observer improperly recorded the observation, which was consequently in error by about 7°C (12.6°F.) The new official highest hottest place on the planet is now Death Valley, California. A remarkable high temperature of 56.7°C (134°F) was measured there on 10 July 1913, at Greenland Ranch.
Figure 1. The trading post at Al Azizia, Libya in 1923. The photo was taken from the Italian military fort located on a small hill just south of the trading post. It was at this fort that the temperature of 58°C (136.4°F) was observed on Sept. 13, 1922 (used with permission from the family of Gen. Enrico Pezzi).
The story behind the overturning of Earth's most hallowed weather record
Today's announcement is the culmination of a 3-year research effort begun by wunderground weather historian, Christopher C. Burt. His blog post today, World Heat Record Overturned--A Personal Account, provides a fascinating detective story on how the record came to be cast down--and how the Libyan revolution of 2012 almost prevented this from happening.
Figure 2. The new official hottest place on the planet: Death Valley, California. Wide open spaces, infinite views, intensely salty water, mind-boggling heat. What's not to love about this place? Image credit: Wunderphotographer SonomaCountyRAF.
Dead Heat: The Video
Don't miss the 25-minute wunderground video, Dead Heat, a detective story on how the El Azizia record was overturned.
Atlantic tropical update
Tropical Storm Nadine is recurving to the northwest and north well east of the Lesser Antilles Islands, on a track that would likely keep this storm far out at sea away from any land areas. However, Nadine may eventually threaten the Azores Islands or Newfoundland; the models are divided on how the steering currents will evolve next week, and we cannot be sure which way Nadine will go during the middle of next week.
The models predict that a trough of low pressure off the U.S. East Coast may serve as the focus for development of a non-tropical low pressure system on Sunday or Monday, but this low will likely form too far to the north to become a tropical storm. The GFS model has been predicting a tropical wave coming off the coast of Africa may develop next week, but has not been consistent with the timing or location of the development.
In the Western Pacific, Super Typhoon Sanba is an impressive top-end Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds, and is headed north-northwest towards a possible landfall in Korea early next week.
Given the importance of the new world record all-time high temperature, I'll leave this post up until Saturday afternoon, when I'll post an update on the tropics.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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There used to be a saying...
'Are you working hard or are you working smart?'
Energy efficiency is 'working smart' and that takes the prize every time.
I'm 6'3" and I too drive a Camry although I'd be more comfortable in a Bentley :)
IMO Samba is one of the most difficult dances ever.
Some would agree that pop control is happening through the birth control women take and then the bc gets into the water supply - as an explanation for men having less fertility than in the past. Seems like every year I know more and more people doing fertility treatments - desperate to have kids, but who can't for reasons that doctors can't seem to explain.
Link
No, bad idea. I had a really funny stat prof. One of our exercises was to calculate the growth in population from 1800 to 1880, along with the corollary growth in horses. We then used linear regression to test what would happen if the horse population continued to grow at the same rate as the population did through 1980. Our conclusion was the entire country would be buried three feet deep in horse manure. :) As long as it's just the Amish, we'll be OK with the horse and buggy.
Thanks for the insight of where you come from. Gotcha.
You'd wonder about the people and how smart they are if you lived down here...lol
We're in a car going 392 mph at a concrete wall.
But will see
how many horses are we talking about?
I bought a Harley two years ago (42 MPG) as a luxury. Loved it so much, I parked my pickup truck (18 MPG) and now use the Harley as my work vehicle. Much more fun and have only a small bag of tools that I really use (along with my laptop).
I only have one child...seemed pointless to have another after knowing myself for over 45 years ;-).
I don't use disposable cups...have a stainless steel cup for my coffee and cold beverages. I refill my plastic water bottle because it has a pop-top style lid. So I guess I promote sustainability and a smaller carbon footprint. My daughter is studying for her degree as an Environmental Geoscientist, and she has helped me decrease my adverse impact on the environment.
My choices are not because of my political leanings, but rather economic and environmental choices. I will not let you know my opinions (rule to happy life: no discussion of politics or religion amongst friends). I will only state facts about how I try to do my small part to preserve what we have for my child and her children...ad infinitum.
Thank you for your analogy on the 6 people on motorcycles vs. 6 in an SUV. Responsible use is a great way to put it.
I wonder about that around here, too, sometimes. LOL This blog is interesting because it seems that most who post are intelligent & informed - especially re weather :D - and are able to have an intelligent discussion on a variety of topics. Quite a nice change from some of my Twitter experiences w/random Tweeters who didn't appreciate my views.
May those responsible meet due justice to the fullest extent
If I understood it correctly, the FBI is issuing alerts for possible homeland violence as well?
I am not an expert, nor am I a scientist (opening qualifier...lol). However, working in the water/wastewater industry, I find it hard to believe that women taking BC, then voiding, would return BC to our public water system. Wastewater treatment is a comprehensive process that takes raw waste and processes it (aerobically, in most cases), then treats the remaining effluent either chemically or through UV radiation before discharging it back into our watershed, thus destroying most (if not all) impurities.
Maybe the increase in infertility is due to evolution (stop please...not wanting to start a global war on evolution vs. Creation...lol), and the human species naturally slowing down the fertility rate due to overpopulation of our great Earth?
Just a few thoughts from a college dropout, owns-his-own business, retired fireman kind of guy.
Peace out...Chief P
It was so disheartening to see the black flag flying over our embassy in Tunisia.
Does anyone really think that this is over the film?
In my opinion the film was an excuse, this was planned and planned for the anniversary of 9/11.
It just makes me ill
The dance is the Samba.
Looking forward to the rains coming this way Largo!
However yesterday's rain made my commute home take one hour and forty five minutes instead of the usualy 20!
Still proud to be an American!!!
God bless the USA
EDIT: Yes, I think the film was an excuse. I hope we can crush the attacks before they get any worse...
We've had bomb threats credited to terrorist groups at both a TX University and UND today, the UND one resulted in evacuating the university.
Well spoken. As an Infantry soldier for 10 1/2 years (1985-1995), who experienced war first-hand in Iraq back in 1991, I pray for peace daily.
Texas evacuated too ...crazy. I was sitting here at work, heard about the bomb threats and knew that my daughter was on her way to school at U of H ...made me worry/wonder if more school would receive threats
I agree; there have been reports that at least one of the attacks was planned well before (and questions about whether the US had info prior to the attacks that there was a threat) - the film just gave them the reason. So much for the Arab Spring bringing democracy & peace. :(
I agree. Best blog I've ever been on. There are times when I don't agree with someone but I read their post and say to myself...."hmmmm.... there's a case being made let me rethink this".
If anything this blog makes you think.
Yeah there's nonsense at times but I will take a little nonsense with the amount of knowledge that is displayed. And you know if there wasn't a little but of nonsense and upheaval it wouldn't be as much fun.
but I have no one to discuss it with..
I look forward to catching up in a few hours.
Behave, be civil, and be smart!
Throw something out there wash ...surely someone will respond
Thank you for your service.
This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis
Outflows are setting up, convective temps (mid 80s) are being reached, moisture is rich... anyone want to guess what happens next?
Looks like it's moving back east a little.
You are wrong about speed limits - try parts of the German Autobahn system - roads purposely built - and built well - for high speeds.
A Bugatti Veyron is an extreme example - very few on the roads anywhere and few people with the capability (skill, courage, money) to drive them to their full potential anyway. A Veyron probably emits less harmful pollution than some 1990s Ford, Cadillac etc clunker.
Power does not mean heavy consumption - and a little investigation will prove that there are many high performance cars out of Europe that actually return relatively good mileage - mainly because of modern engine technologies.
And it is called freedom of choice within existing laws in many places in the world and when was there anything wrong in being able to "afford the consequences"?
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