By: Iris Shen
About 2 months ago, France suffered through its hottest May ever. Again in June, France was hit by another heat wave that also affected other countries like Italy and Spain. This month, countries in Eastern Europe, like Poland, experienced another wave of extreme heat. So why is Europe getting hit with so many heat waves?
Now, another heat wave is settling. The temperatures are at or near triple digits from the British Isles to Spain. Because of this, strong wildfires have started in many countries, and the continent is experiencing an extreme drought.
Europe’s rise in temperature can make it more likely for a similar phenomenon to occur in places nearby, because a period of extreme heat will dry out the soil. When there’s moisture in the soil, some of the sun’s energy is used in evaporating the water, leading to a slight cooling effect. But when one heat wave wipes out almost all this moisture, there is little left to evaporate. Therefore, when the next wave of hot air arrives, a higher percentage of the sun’s energy bakes the surface, adding to the heat.
And there’s another month of summer left! So, why is Europe getting hit with so many heat waves?
No two heat waves are the same. The current scorching temperatures that reached into England and Wales on Monday were caused in part by upper level low-pressure air that has been stalled off the coast of Portugal for days. It’s known as a “cutoff low” by atmospheric scientists.
Efi Rousi is a senior scientist at Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany. She said the current heat wave appeared to be linked to a “double jet,” which she said has been in place over Europe for the past two weeks. This could have led to the creation of the cutoff low as and an area of weak winds over Europe. Rousi adds that “It seems this is really favoring the buildup of this heat wave.”
There may be other reasons Europe is seeing more and more heat waves, although some of these are currently the subject of debate among scientists. Natural climate change can make it difficult to pick out specific influences, Dr. Rousi said.
During a heat wave, scientists recommend to stay in a cool place and be alert for any information about the wave. Remember to stay hydrated!
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