People across the Northern Hemisphere are having to cope with scorching temperatures as heat waves grip three continents.

China has seen record-breaking temperatures.
Beijing residents have been seeking cover wherever they can find shade, or looking for relief swimming in lakes.

A man walking in the capital told NHK on Wednesday that it's hotter these days than it used to be. He said he had already drunk several bottles of water that day.

Wednesday was the 28th day this year that Beijing logged a high of at least 35 degrees Celsius. That's the longest stretch ever recorded.

California's Death Valley is known for its scorching summer heat. The mercury there hit a sizzling 56 degrees on Sunday.

Another US hot spot -- Phoenix -- on Tuesday recorded a high of 44 degrees. Highs in the Arizona capital topped 43 degrees for a record 19 straight days.

Climate expert Nakamura Hisashi of Tokyo University said that when the westerly jet stream meanders north, high-pressure systems linger, bringing hot weather. Nakamura noted that when that northward drift persists, abnormally high temperatures occur.

Nakamura believes climate change is partly to blame for the raging heat. He said the "entire troposphere" has warmed up due to the impact of climate change, triggering abnormal temperatures that can only be described as "unprecedented" or "record-breaking."