Hey there! 🌞 Have you noticed how summers are getting hotter each year? Well, you're not alone! Europe just had some of its hottest summers ever, and it's not just about feeling a bit sweaty. 😅
According to a report by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2023 saw record levels of heat stress across Europe. 🥵 But what exactly is heat stress? It's when the body struggles to cope with environmental conditions—think high temperatures, humidity, wind, and even heat bouncing off concrete jungles. 🏙️
Dr. Rebecca Emerton, a climate scientist at Copernicus, said, \"We're seeing an increasing trend in the number of days with heat stress across Europe and 2023 was no exception.\"
She also mentioned, \"This is equivalent to a feels-like temperature of more than 46 degrees Celsius, at which point it's imperative to take actions to avoid health risks such as heat stroke.\"
Get this: On July 23rd, during a massive heatwave, a whopping 41% of southern Europe experienced strong to extreme heat stress levels! That's the largest area ever recorded experiencing such intense heat on a single day. 😲
Countries like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey saw up to 10 days of extreme heat stress. And southern Spain? They endured up to 80 days of very strong heat stress! ☀️🔥
Why does this matter? Prolonged exposure to these conditions can seriously affect our health, leading to heat strokes and even increasing death rates. In fact, heat-related deaths have soared around 30% in the last 20 years in Europe. 💔
So, what's the feels-like temperature during these extreme heat stress days? More than 46°C! 🥵 At these temperatures, it's super important to stay cool, hydrate, and look out for one another. 💧
Climate change is real, and it's heating things up. It's time to take action and stay informed! 🌍💪
Reference(s):
Increasingly hot European summers are harming health, report says
cgtn.com
