Europe just saw the hottest summer in 2022. As per the Copernicus Climate Change Services, it was a red hot Europe summer in 2022. Massive wildfires, heatwaves, and prolonged droughts caused this record breaking summer in 2022 in Europe.
Different weather change factors fueled arid weather conditions and high temperatures. Since 2016, Europe has seen the hottest years with arid soil conditions and longer hot spells, but the drastic change in summer in 2022 has broken all the records.
Hottest August in Europe
The month of August 2022 broke all the records not only in Europe but on the entire continent. Previously, August 2021 was the hottest in Europe until it was beaten by the record breaking summer in 2022 with an increase of temperature by 0.4 degrees Celsius. While Eastern Europe suffered extreme conditions in August, the southwestern parts underwent the scorching summer in June and July.
As a whole, it was a red hot Europe summer in 2022 from June to August. This year’s summer was 1.34C hotter than average, with the summer temperature between 1991 and 2020. Only August was 1.72C hotter than average.
The Red Hot Europe Summer in 2022
The mercury rose to 40C in Britain for the first time, and the record breaking summer in 2022 included record heatwaves and wildfires. Since January, almost 660,000 hectares in Europe was torched due to wildfires.
Massive wildfires in France caused excessive carbon pollution, the highest since 2003, when the records began.
The EU said the drought conditions were the worst in five hundred years.
Almost forty-seven percent of the European continent was on drought warnings, and drought alerts were issued on another seventeen percent area, including parts of Wales and England. The situation put vegetation harvesting in trouble, and Scotland also faced water scarcity.
Along with droughts, high temperatures, and fir activity affecting people and nature badly, heated waves damages were also severe. The drastic change of summer in 2022 caused the loss of thousands of lives, damage to crops, and the burning of forests throughout a vast area.
Heatwaves and high temperatures also affected runways. London airport runways became so hot that authorities had to cancel or divert flights and close the runways temporarily. It happened to various airports, including Luton airport.
Red hot summer increases energy prices as well. International situations already led to the high price of energy, and the demand for instant cooling due to the extreme heat conditions led to further increase in energy price.
Weather Change Factors
Global warming has been the main reason for this red hot Europe summer in 2022. Emissions of greenhouse gas increased the possibility of severities of the heat wave in the UK by ten times higher, said a study. Droughts and hot weather cycles created heat domes that diverted the rain. Hot weather conditions are likely to become more severe in the upcoming years.
Climate change shows a massive difference in weather conditions in different parts of the world and parts of a single continent. Whether Eastern and Southwestern Europe suffered the hottest summer, Scandinavia and Southeastern Europe faced heavy rainfall and storm. Parts of China and Pakistan also went through excessive rainfall, causing floods and deaths.
Excessive use of air conditioners is one of the main reasons the cities are getting hotter than ever. Heat penetration from air conditioners is quite natural as the air-conditioning machines funnel the heat outside the house. But, the fact is that only 10% of household people have air conditioners in Britain.
Conclusion
There is no chance for the world, including Europe, to sigh relief after the red hot Europe summer in 2022 has passed. A tough winter in Europe for climate change is being faced as energy prices and inflation continues to be higher. The forecast says the winter in Europe this year will be colder and an early one with unusually less rain and wind.
