As the holiday season commences on the Earth’s most rapidly warming continent, we reflect on a series of scorching summers in Europe that have had devastating consequences, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives.
2022: Record-breaking Heat
The summer of 2022 witnessed the highest temperatures ever recorded in Europe’s history. This extreme heatwave led to the worst drought in centuries, as well as catastrophic wildfires in France and Spain.
The heatwaves experienced in mid-June and July contributed to one of the deadliest summers in recent years. According to the esteemed journal, Nature Medicine, over 61,000 lives were claimed by the heat.
The data from Nature also revealed that France experienced the greatest increase in temperature compared to previous summers, with a rise of 2.43 degrees Celsius (36.37 Fahrenheit).
In July, the United Kingdom witnessed its first-ever temperature exceeding 40C.
2021: Greece Swelters
Between late July and early August, Greece faced its most severe heatwave in over three decades.
Parts of southern Spain recorded temperatures of 47C.
The resulting drought led to widespread wildfires across the Mediterranean, spanning from Turkey to Spain.
2019: Northern Europe Scorching
The summer of 2019 brought two heatwaves, one in late June and one in mid-July.
In France, temperatures soared to a record-breaking 46C in the southern town of Verargues.
At Lingen in northwestern Germany, temperatures peaked at 42.6C, causing sweltering conditions in northern Europe.
2018: Danube Drought
During the second half of July and beginning of August 2018, Europe experienced extremely high temperatures.
In some areas, the Danube River reached its lowest levels in a century, revealing World War II tanks submerged since the conflict.
2017: Endless Heat
From late June to August, Europe, particularly the southern regions, endured prolonged and intense heat.
A record temperature of 47.3C was recorded in Montoro, Spain on July 13.
2015: Back-to-back Heatwaves
The summer of 2015 was characterized by consecutive heatwaves.
In the United Kingdom, roads melted and train services were disrupted during what was then the hottest July on record.
2007: Greek Forest Fires
June and July of 2007 brought extreme heat and drought to central and southern Europe.
In Greece, the country lost four percent of its forests due to the worst forest fires in fifty years. While some of the fires were suspected to be arson, others were a direct result of the scorching weather and lack of rainfall.
2003: Tragic Loss of Life
In the first half of August, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal were all hit by exceptional heat.
A study conducted by the European Union estimates that the heatwave led to as many as 70,000 excess deaths across the bloc.
In France alone, an estimated 15,000-20,000 people, mostly elderly individuals without proper support, tragically lost their lives. Since then, the country has implemented new systems to safeguard vulnerable individuals during periods of extreme heat.
© 2023 AFP
Citation:
Europe in summer: scorching new normal (2023, July 10)
retrieved 12 July 2023
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Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
