Scientists claim that last summer was the hottest in Europe. Temperatures were 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the average over the past three decades.
Copernicus Climate Change Service, European Union, released a report Friday showing that spring 2021 was colder than average but that summer of 2021 saw “severe heatwaves” that witnessed that set new temperature records. This included an unprecedented 48.8 C (119.8 F), which was measured in Sicily last august.
The high temperatures caused wildfires like those in Siberia and Turkey last year. Experts say this made heavy rain more likely, which could have led to the deadly flooding in Belgium last July.
The sea surface temperatures in 2012 were the highest since 1992, at least in parts of the Baltic Sea and eastern Mediterranean Sea. In these areas, the mercury rose by more than 5 C (9 F) during the summer months.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, annual wind speeds in central and western Europe were amongst the lowest since 1979. This resulted in a decrease in the potential wind power, which is one of the main sources for renewable energy European countries are relying on to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
These findings were based on satellite observations and ground-based weather stations dating back to 1950.
The report revealed that 2021 was the 7th or 5th warmest year in recorded history, depending on which dataset was used.
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