Heatwaves in Europe, flood in the Gulf: What is causing such erratic weather patterns?

While European countries like Britain, Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal are battling unprecedented extreme heat waves, the Gulf countries Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are dealing with untimely floods. As usual, climate change is to blame. What is worse is that these unprecedented extreme weather events are expected to increase in the decades ahead even if the governments act on their pledges to cut down emissions — which is highly unlikely.

Times Now Exclusive

Updated Aug 1, 2022, 18:07 IST

The world seems to be battling a tough year when it comes to rapid, unexpected and hazardous climate changes. Whether it’s Europe or the Gulf region, no one is spared from the wrath of extreme weather alterations.

Europe’s unprecedented heatwave

Blazes were seen in northern Europe as searing temperatures forced Britain to be prepared for what could be the region’s hottest day on record. The situation was exasperated further since Britain is not built for sustaining such record-breaking heat waves.

According to a New York Times report, less than five per cent of homes in England have air-conditioning units installed. British homes are also not designed by keeping sweltering summers in mind. Central air is a rare commodity even for London bars and restaurants.

Britain’s heatwave has threatened to buckle train tracks and melt airport runways. Subways have suspended service, and flames have swept through more than 40 houses and parts of London. The city’s fire brigade said that it had the busiest day tackling the consequences of the heat wave since World War II. Swaths of England could also face a drought next month, according to the U.K. Environment Agency.

In Spain’s Madrid, temperatures reached 36 degrees Celsius on Friday, while Seville recorded a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius. Spain and Portugal recorded more than a thousand deaths related to the unforgiving heat wave, according to each country’s ministry of health.

If this was not enough, fires ravaged Spain, Portugal and France, destroying thousands of acres of land. In France, more than 14,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the rapidly-spreading fires, as mentioned in an ABC News report. In Spain’s Malaga, 3,000 people had to flee because of the fires.

Recently Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, spoke at a press conference without wearing a tie, encouraging ministers, public health officials and workers in the private sectors to do the same. His aim is to save energy by staying cooler. The country wants to reduce its dependence on air conditioners in the wake of Russia terminating gas supplies to Europe due to the war in Ukraine.

The heatwave also did not spare Germany, where temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius in many parts of the nation. Some areas are predicted to reach a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, as well.

While politicians are being called to significantly expand their efforts during this hot spell, trade unions are also demanding relief for employees, according to a The Local Germany report. This includes longer breaks or an earlier end to work, despite no legal entitlement to this provision. Moreover, the German city of Hanover banned hot water in public buildings to reduce energy usage because of the potential natural gas crisis Europe will have to face this winter.

Storms in the Gulf

Not sparing other parts of the world, climate change had led to incredibly rare July thunderstorms hitting Qatar and other parts of the Gulf. The rain and thunder started early on Thursday morning, leading to floods in some portions of Qatar.

According to the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), the thunder and rainfall will continue until the end of this week in most areas of the country.

Al Jazeera reported that for the months of the summer, much of the Arabian Peninsula doesn’t expect to see downpours, instead facing a hot, dry and dusty summer. Monsoon rains only affect some parts when rain bursts out of India, notably affecting Oman and Yemen, which have regular summer thunderstorms.

More than 1,885 people have been displaced, and seven people have died in the UAE amidst the heavy rains and flooding, according to an Al Arabiya report. Hence, rains seen in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are unprecedented and a cause for concern.

What is causing such changes in the weather patterns

Global warming certainly plays a role because temperatures on average are 1.1 degrees Celsius higher in the world than they were in the 19th century. Carbon dioxide emissions and other heat-trapping gases have become widespread, which is why extreme heat takes off from a higher starting point.

Climate change traps more heat in the global system, and a warmer atmosphere means more heat extremes. Moreover, climate change leads to changing weather patterns by bringing heat and rain to places that don’t normally experience them.

“The chances of seeing 40C days in the U.K. could be as much as ten times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence,” Nikos Christidis, a climate attribution scientist at the U.K. Met Office, said in a Politico report.

Besides that, Europe, in particular, has become a hot spot for heat waves as the region is a low-pressure zone. These zones tend to draw air toward them, and in this case, the low-pressure zone has been steadily drawing air from North Africa toward it and into Europe.

According to a New Y0rk Times report, there are also indications that changes in one of the world’s major ocean currents, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, can be a plausible reason behind Europe’s suffering. Previous computer simulations have shown that a weakening of the current as the world warms leads to changes in atmospheric circulation, ultimately resulting in drier summers in Europe.

These kinds of heat waves are expected to increase in the decades ahead, even if the governments act on their pledges to cut down emissions, which is highly unlikely. According to Christidis, “Even with the current pledges on emissions reductions, such extremes could be taking place every 15 years in the climate of 2100.”

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