France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and other countries have all experienced extreme heat with temperatures rising to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scientists say that the temperature is rising faster than in any other part of the planet. This is partly due to global warming, as the temperatures are rising 2 degrees higher than they were in the 19th century. “It seems this is really favoring the buildup of this heat wave,” says Efi Rousi, a senior scientist at Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany.
It may also be partly due to the circulation of the atmosphere and the ocean. The reason behind the heatwave in England and Wales last Monday was because of low-pressure air. Low-pressure zones tend to draw air toward them. The low-pressure zone drew the warm air from North Africa into Europe, causing heat waves. “It’s pumping hot air northward,” said Kai Kornhuber, a researcher at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, part of Columbia University.
On the other hand, when the soil is moist and is evaporated, the air around will be temporarily cooled until a heat wave wipes out all the moisture. The sun will continue to beat down on the surface making it hotter causing an endless cycle.
Scientists say that the temperature is rising faster than in any other part of the planet. This is partly due to global warming, as the temperatures are rising 2 degrees higher than they were in the 19th century. “It seems this is really favoring the buildup of this heat wave,” says Efi Rousi, a senior scientist at Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany.
It may also be partly due to the circulation of the atmosphere and the ocean. The reason behind the heatwave in England and Wales last Monday was because of low-pressure air. Low-pressure zones tend to draw air toward them. The low-pressure zone drew the warm air from North Africa into Europe, causing heat waves. “It’s pumping hot air northward,” said Kai Kornhuber, a researcher at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, part of Columbia University.
On the other hand, when the soil is moist and is evaporated, the air around will be temporarily cooled until a heat wave wipes out all the moisture. The sun will continue to beat down on the surface making it hotter causing an endless cycle.
