Explainer: Cold Europe turns into a ball of fire! 1300 deaths, roads and tracks melted, know what is the reason behind this?

Heat havoc in Europe: Many states of India are currently experiencing severe heat, with temperatures reaching around 50 degrees Celsius every day. However, such terrible heat is not a new thing for the people living in India. But this heat has wreaked havoc in Europe. The entire Europe is currently in the grip of a severe heatwave, due to which more than 1,300 people have died so far.

The havoc of heat in Europe is so severe that roads are melting and railway tracks are crumbling, schools and offices have been closed and people have been forced to leave their homes and spend nights outside on the sea shore. In such a situation, the question arises that how did the heat which is normal for India become so dangerous in Europe? What is the reason behind this extreme heat in Europe?

All old heat records destroyed in Europe

All the old heat records in Europe have been broken-

• More than 1,000 people died in France: For the first time since 1947, the temperature in France has reached 44.3 degrees Celsius. More than 1,000 people have died in France alone due to the extreme heat and heatwave. This also includes the case of death of an 18-month-old child due to getting trapped in a car. Apart from this, 55 people drowned after jumping into rivers and ponds to get relief from the heat.
• The situation is bad in Germany also: Like France, the situation in Germany also remains serious. The temperature here has crossed 41 degrees Celsius. Due to the heat, railway tracks have started melting and falling apart, due to which many trains had to be cancelled. Apart from this, there is news of massive fire in the forests.
• 105 year old record broken in Poland: A 105-year-old record has been broken in Poland, where the temperature was recorded at 40.5 degrees Celsius. In Britain too, the June record was broken and the mercury reached 36.1 degrees Celsius. Apart from this, water is being sprayed on people in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic.

How is the normal heat of India so severe in Europe?

In India, temperature of 35-40 degrees is considered normal. Whereas this heat is proving fatal for Europe. The biggest reason for this is the geographical location of India and Europe. The Tropic of Cancer passes through India, where sunlight falls directly and for a longer period. Due to which there is severe heat in India.

At the same time, the Arctic Circle and the Prime Meridian pass through Europe. Where the sun’s rays fall obliquely, which reduces heat and temperature. Due to this, Europe generally experiences more winter than summer. This is the reason why the temperature which is considered normal in India, becomes dangerous and deadly in Europe.

Why is the heat proving fatal in Europe?

There are many reasons behind heat proving fatal in Europe. Such as the structure of European houses, lack of air conditioners and elderly population.

Structure of houses: In Europe, because there is more cold than heat, the houses here are built in such a way that they remain warm from inside for a long time. The walls and roofs there (often made of tin or iron) absorb the heat inside and do not allow it to come out. This is good for cold weather but it becomes fatal in summer.

Lack of rest: European homes turn on ‘furnaces’ at night due to extreme heat. Like getting hot. Due to which people’s bodies are not getting a chance to recover from the heat. As a result, things like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, cardiovascular and dehydration are happening. Due to which people are dying.

Lack of air conditioner: In comparison to America, 90 percent of homes in Europe do not have air conditioner systems. Only 20% of homes across Europe have AC. Whereas in Britain this figure is only 7 percent. Even public places, schools and hospitals in Europe do not have AC. However, in France now the government has released a budget of 100 crore euros to install AC in hospitals. This step has been taken after a patient died due to overheating in the room.

Elderly population: A large number of heat-related deaths in Europe are among the elderly. 22% of the population in Europe is above 65 years of age, for whom it becomes very difficult to tolerate this type of heat. Apart from this, most of the elderly people live alone. They have no one to take care of them. Apart from this, sunlight lasts longer in Europe (about 16 hours) than in India (12-13 hours), which further increases the intensity of heat.

Omega Block and Heat Dome

According to experts, there are three major scientific reasons behind this extreme heat-

Omega Block: There is a high-pressure system in the atmosphere of Europe, with low-pressure systems on either side. Due to this, the ‘jet stream’ which carries the weather forward. Flowing in the shape of the Greek letter Ω (omega). This is a ‘seasonal traffic jam’ It is working like a cyclone, which has trapped the hot winds coming from Africa into Europe and prevented the cold winds from coming in.

Heat Dome: When the high-pressure system becomes stable in one place, it pushes the air rising from the sun’s heat back down. As the air presses down, it gets compressed and becomes hotter. This creates a pressure cooker-like environment, in which, in the absence of clouds, the direct rays of the sun heat the ground even more.

Global Warming: Scientists believe that natural phenomena such as Omega Blocks and Heat Domes are occurring with greater intensity due to global warming. Europe has become the world’s fastest warming continent and is warming at twice the global average.

In simple words, the heat in Europe is not only the result of high temperature, but behind it are scientific reasons like geographical location, climate, structure of houses, lack of air conditioners, elderly population along with omega block, heat dome and global warming.

Also read- Pakistan Heatwave: Record breaking heat in Pakistan, mercury reached 51.5 degree Celsius, 10 died in Karachi

Europe’s climate and infrastructure are not suited to such temperatures. Due to global warming, such incidents may increase in the future. Therefore, it is very important to adopt timely climate policies, better urban planning and measures to prevent heatwaves.