Temperatures in Europe this summer have been scorching: in some areas, it
has been the hottest ever in recorded history. This past week, the United
Kingdom had temperatures as high as 104 degrees, much hotter than the
mildly warm 70-degree summers that Britons enjoy. The United Kingdom,
however, is not the only place in Europe sweltering, as Spain, Italy and some
Eastern European countries have also experienced temperatures in the triple
digits.
The heat waves in Europe are not the only severe ones, considering many
heat waves that have already occurred around the world in Japan, the United
States, and Pakistan.
However, scientists say that heat waves in Europe will increase in frequency
and intensity much faster than in other parts of the world.
The main reason is Europe’s geographical proximity to the Equator, which
makes it more susceptible to warm air circulating from the middle of the
planet.
The heat waves occurring in the UK currently are due to a region of low-pressure
systems that started in the coast of Portugal. Low pressure systems
draw air toward them. Because the systems started off the coast of Portugal,
a very hot area, that hot air was pushed towards the North as the systems
were traveling towards Britain.
Another possible reason for the increasing amount of heat waves could be
due to ocean currents. As the Earth warms up, the strength of ocean currents
decreases, which would cause changes in the circulation of air around
Europe, thus leading to a drier climate.
Do our world leaders take action and mitigate the effects of the already
obvious effects of global warming, or stand idly by as our world deteriorates?
has been the hottest ever in recorded history. This past week, the United
Kingdom had temperatures as high as 104 degrees, much hotter than the
mildly warm 70-degree summers that Britons enjoy. The United Kingdom,
however, is not the only place in Europe sweltering, as Spain, Italy and some
Eastern European countries have also experienced temperatures in the triple
digits.
The heat waves in Europe are not the only severe ones, considering many
heat waves that have already occurred around the world in Japan, the United
States, and Pakistan.
However, scientists say that heat waves in Europe will increase in frequency
and intensity much faster than in other parts of the world.
The main reason is Europe’s geographical proximity to the Equator, which
makes it more susceptible to warm air circulating from the middle of the
planet.
The heat waves occurring in the UK currently are due to a region of low-pressure
systems that started in the coast of Portugal. Low pressure systems
draw air toward them. Because the systems started off the coast of Portugal,
a very hot area, that hot air was pushed towards the North as the systems
were traveling towards Britain.
Another possible reason for the increasing amount of heat waves could be
due to ocean currents. As the Earth warms up, the strength of ocean currents
decreases, which would cause changes in the circulation of air around
Europe, thus leading to a drier climate.
Do our world leaders take action and mitigate the effects of the already
obvious effects of global warming, or stand idly by as our world deteriorates?
