What is the most extreme temperature ever recorded on Earth?

The most extreme temperature ever recorded on Earth occurred on July 10, 1913, in the Libyan desert of El Azizia, Libya. The temperature was recorded as a blistering 58.0 °C (136.4 °F). The temperature was recorded by the Italian-run weather station in El Azizia, Libya, and was verified by the World Meteorological Organization in September 2012.

This temperature is considered to be the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth. It is important to note that the highest ground surface temperature ever recorded was in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913, where a temperature of 70.7 °C (159.3 °F) was recorded. While this is much higher than the air temperature recorded in El Azizia, it is not considered to be an air temperature, as it was recorded on the ground surface and not in the air.

The El Azizia temperature was recorded during a period of extreme heat and drought in the region, with temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) being recorded for several days. The extreme heat was caused by a combination of high air pressure, hot air from the Sahara Desert, and a lack of cloud cover. The extreme temperature has since been surpassed by other locations, including Death Valley, California, which recorded a temperature of 56.7 °C (134.1 °F) on July 15, 2020.

The extreme temperature recorded in El Azizia is a reminder of the impact of climate change on the Earth's temperature. It serves as a warning of the potential future temperatures that could be experienced in certain regions of the world if climate change is not addressed.