Heat shock: the Mediterranean is "boiling" - this can have dire consequences in Germany
Created: 06/23/2022, 05:14
By: Momir Takac
The Mediterranean Sea is already unusually warm in June.
© picture alliance/dpa |
Clara Margais
Parts of Europe have weathered the unusual heatwave.
But the extreme temperatures could still adversely affect the weather in Germany.
Munich - Germany up to 39 degrees, France 43 degrees, Spain even 45 degrees: These countries, among others, have already had the first hot spell of the year.
Greece is now hit with temperatures of more than 40 degrees and - according to meteorologists - possibly for ten days.
Weather models had forecast this extraordinary heat wave in Europe.
Weather and extreme heat: Heat waves could intensify
Such high temperatures are actually not unusual, especially in southern European countries, but they are very early in time.
“Unfortunately, what we are seeing today is a foretaste of the future,” warned Clare Nullis of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva if greenhouse gas emissions do not go down.
Climate change is leading to earlier heat waves.
For example, Spain had to contend with forest fires due to extreme heat and drought.
The high temperatures had and still have the consequence that the Mediterranean Sea warms up unusually.
“The western Mediterranean is unusually warm.
27 degrees are currently being measured.
That's about 4 to 5 degrees more than usual at this time of year.
This means that the sea is as warm as it usually is in August, i.e. at the end of summer and the heating phase," writes meteorologist Paul Heger on
wetter.de
.
Weather: "Boiling" Mediterranean Sea can favor heavy rain in Germany
Especially in summer, this could result in possible further heat waves intensifying because they cannot be cooled by the Mediterranean Sea.
However, the "boiling" Mediterranean Sea should also have a decisive influence on the weather in Germany, keyword water vapor.
“In contrast to air, water holds more heat energy and only releases it little by little – especially in the form of warm water vapour.
This is where the danger lies, because this water vapor can also affect us in the form of heavy rain.
The heat wave from mid-June will probably continue to have an effect well into July,” explains Heger.
In the days after the extreme heat, thunderstorms and storms were already announced for parts of Germany.
(mt)