Not a world's record temperatureIn 1922, 136.4 °F (58 °C), the world's highest shade temperature was—purportedly—recorded at the African village of Al Aziziyah, a trade center, about 25 miles (40 km) south of Tripoli, Libya. Although for 90 years the iconic record remained accepted, in Jan 2012, after scrutiny of the original data logs, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) decided it was, in fact, clearly invalid. Modern improvements in analysis found the data inconsistent with other regional measurements. Also, the log showed a change of observer from 11 Sep 1922, who, by inexperience of the specific model of thermometer used had likely read the wrong end of the indicator slide, resulting in a difference of 7ºC. The accepted record is now 134 ºF (56.7 ºC) on 10 Jul 1913 at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, California.« |
