August 01, 2019

A Record European Heatwave

Listen Later

2 minutes

Sahara Desert winds blasted Europe in June, especially during a five-day heatwave that set many records. Between that and weather elsewhere, June was not only one of the hottest ever for that continent, but also for the world as a whole.

In Europe, the average temperature was about 5 degrees Fahrenheit

above the June average of a century ago.

The global temperature was nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit higher.

The European heatwave broke temperature records in France,

Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Spain.

A temperature above 114 degrees was recorded near the French city of

Nîmes.

The intense heat lead to wildfires in Spain and Germany, and widespread

disruption across Europe. Undoubtedly,

the heatwave has caused many premature deaths, but it will take some time to

compile those statistics. The European

heatwave of 2003 caused more than 70,000 premature deaths.

According to calculations by climate scientists, the record-breaking heatwave

in June was made at least 5 and as much as 100 times more likely by climate

change. Global heating caused by the

carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and other human activities means

that heatwaves are becoming more probable and severe. So-called attribution studies estimate how

much more likely and severe such events are.

The researchers used temperature records stretching back to 1901 to

assess the probability of a heatwave last month and in the past. They also examined climate change models to

assess the impact of global heating.

More than 230 attribution studies to date around the world have found

that 95% of heatwaves were made more likely or worse by climate change.

It was the hottest June on record in Europe by a country mile and

there are likely to be more months like it in the future.

**********

Web Links

Climate Change Made Last Month’s European Heatwave At Least Five Times More Likely

Photo, posted February 13, 2018, courtesy of Guilhem Vellut via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more

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Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

4.7

1515 ratings

August 01, 2019

A Record European Heatwave

Listen Later

2 minutes

Sahara Desert winds blasted Europe in June, especially during a five-day heatwave that set many records. Between that and weather elsewhere, June was not only one of the hottest ever for that continent, but also for the world as a whole.

In Europe, the average temperature was about 5 degrees Fahrenheit

above the June average of a century ago.

The global temperature was nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit higher.

The European heatwave broke temperature records in France,

Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Spain.

A temperature above 114 degrees was recorded near the French city of

Nîmes.

The intense heat lead to wildfires in Spain and Germany, and widespread

disruption across Europe. Undoubtedly,

the heatwave has caused many premature deaths, but it will take some time to

compile those statistics. The European

heatwave of 2003 caused more than 70,000 premature deaths.

According to calculations by climate scientists, the record-breaking heatwave

in June was made at least 5 and as much as 100 times more likely by climate

change. Global heating caused by the

carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and other human activities means

that heatwaves are becoming more probable and severe. So-called attribution studies estimate how

much more likely and severe such events are.

The researchers used temperature records stretching back to 1901 to

assess the probability of a heatwave last month and in the past. They also examined climate change models to

assess the impact of global heating.

More than 230 attribution studies to date around the world have found

that 95% of heatwaves were made more likely or worse by climate change.

It was the hottest June on record in Europe by a country mile and

there are likely to be more months like it in the future.

**********

Web Links

Climate Change Made Last Month’s European Heatwave At Least Five Times More Likely

Photo, posted February 13, 2018, courtesy of Guilhem Vellut via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more