Global warming, 48.8C in Europe, what is it and why
Global warming.
The summer of 2023 is set to be one of the most unusual in human history, with confirmation from the European observatory Copernicus that the combined effect of climate change and the return of the El Niño phenomenon are pushing ocean and land temperatures to unprecedented levels.
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Earth is already 1.2 degrees Celsius hotter than in the preindustrial era. The developing El Niño, a naturally occurring weather phenomenon in the Pacific, is expected to exacerbate this man-made warming trend.
The World Meteorological Organization has warned that this El Niño — which comes after the planet spent three years under the influence of La Niña, the cooling phase of the Pacific cycle — is set to “push global temperatures into uncharted territory.”
Global warming, El Niño’s.
El Niño’s full effect won’t take hold until later this year, however, and isn’t to blame for the temperature anomalies in the Atlantic.
“We’re seeing these high temperatures in the North Atlantic despite the fact that El Niño hasn’t really got going yet,” Michael Sparrow, head of the WMO’s climate research division, told reporters this week.
While the warming is particularly pronounced in the Northeastern Atlantic, global sea surface temperatures have been hitting record highs for the past three months.
In June, a marine heat wave warmed waters around the British Isles to more than 5 degrees Celsius above normal. Some coastal areas of Florida are currently surrounded by what one expert called “bathtub water” of more than 30C.
It’s not fully clear what’s fueling these spikes, although scientists are certain that man-made climate change plays a leading role. Copernicus says a mix of global warming trends and “unusual” atmospheric circulation is driving the marine anomalies.
Scientists also point to the sharp reduction in pollution from shipping since 2020, when strict rules came into effect to protect human and environmental health.
Those have led to a 10 percent drop in emissions of sulfur dioxide, which has a cooling effect — giving a slight boost to global warming. A recent analysis by Carbon Brief found that this contributes two years’ worth of global emissions.
Climate scientists have also identified an unusual absence of Saharan dust — which tends to reflect the sun’s warming rays — over the Atlantic in recent months.
Global warming, smashed heat records.
Oceans absorb most of the warming humans have produced, but the heat doesn’t all stay there. When the oceans are particularly warm, it means they warm the atmosphere considerably as well.
The planet’s hottest-ever week was July 3 to 9, the WMO said Monday, citing Copernicus data.
Besides the current high ocean temperatures and the broader warming trend, two additional factors likely helped raise the world’s average daily temperature to a record 17.2C last week.
Changes to the polar jet stream pattern, which some scientists believe is linked to climate change, are increasingly trapping high-pressure systems bringing hot and dry conditions. Such blocking highs have helped fuel Canada’s devastating wildfires, for example.
Then there’s the 2022 undersea volcanic eruption in Tonga. While above-ground volcanoes can spew cooling sulfur into the stratosphere, a recent study found last year’s eruption sent massive amounts of water vapor skyward — likely having a slight warming effect.
Global warming, ripple effects.
The higher the global average temperature, the more intense and frequent dangerous heat waves become. Italian meteorologists have warned that the country could break the European heat record of 48.8C this week.
Extreme heat can be dangerous by itself — a study this week found that more than 60,000 Europeans died due to heat last summer — and can have devastating consequences for ecosystems, which may affect food security.
This summer, because of the abnormally warm waters, Florida’s corals are at an unprecedented risk of bleaching events, an existential threat to reefs.
Marine heat waves also threaten fisheries and, by extension, humans and animals that rely on them for food.
Mexico’s government said last month that hundreds of birds found starved to death were victims of the developing El Niño, whose warming effect can drive fish into deeper, cooler waters where seabirds can’t get to.
Higher land and ocean temperatures contribute to ice loss at the poles, which accelerates global warming as dark seawater absorbs more radiation than white ice sheets. Scientists are particularly concerned about the record low in Antarctic sea ice this year.
Global warming, they also set the stage for more extreme weather in Europe and around the globe.
The North Atlantic is one of the key drivers of extreme weather in Europe, and also on the other side of the Atlantic. The warm waters could fuel strong hurricanes or extreme rainfall.
As global warming continues to plague our planet, Europe has recently experienced an unprecedented heatwave that has left its mark on the continent.
With soaring temperatures and scorching sun, this exceptional heatwave has shattered records and raised concerns about the future consequences of climate change.
Global warming, Implications for the Future.
The heatwave that scorc Europe reveals the grim reality of the future we are heading towards. Global warming continues to escalate, with heatwaves becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and hitting harder than ever before.
The implications are far-reaching, as such extreme heat can have catastrophic impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, and public health.
This relentless rampage should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, urging them to take immediate action in curbing carbon emissions and implementing sustainable practices.
Climate change is not a distant threat!
It is here and now, with heatwaves like these acting as a stark reminder of the urgency to act. The speed and magnitude of the climate change we are facing today is unprecedented.
Heatwaves, droughts, floods… We are feeling its effects on our daily.
Europe’s record-breaking heatwave just another summer anomaly. It was a manifestation of the ruthless impact of global warming, exposing us to the future that awaits if we do not change our course.
The fiery rampage of this heatwave prompts us to reflect on the actions necessary to mitigate the effects of global warming and to secure a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.
All The Best!
