High pollution alert issued for London
"This is particularly important in order to protect those who are most vulnerable," said Mete Coban, the deputy mayor of environment and energy.
'Rare occurrence'
Coban said London's toxic air was "responsible for around 4,000 premature deaths in the capital each year". "Which is why the mayor has done everything in his power to tackle it," he added.He urged Londoners to "look after themselves" during the pollution alert.City Hall issues alerts to Londoners, schools and local boroughs when moderate, high or very high air pollution is forecast.High air pollution alerts are also displayed at all bus stop countdown signs, as well as on the Underground.An air quality report published last year said high pollution episodes were now a "rare occurrence" in London.It said between 2018 and 2023, 19 high pollution alerts were issued and 217 moderate pollution alerts, "enabling Londoners to increase their awareness of high pollution episodes and take precautionary action on these days".
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Scientists warn a new weather phenomenon dubbed the 'FIREWAVE' will devastate UK cities as summers become hotter and drier
Scientists have warned that a new weather phenomenon dubbed the 'firewave' has the potential to devastate UK cities. As climate change makes summers hotter and drier, there is a growing risk that wildfires will spread within the heart of the UK's biggest cities. Coined by researchers at Imperial College London, the term firewave describes multiple wildfires simultaneously erupting in urban areas due to prolonged hot weather. This comes after firefighters in London rushed to battle three separate grass fires in 24 hours, as temperatures reached 33.3°C (91°F) in the capital. Using data from the London Fire Brigade, fire researcher Professor Guillermo Rein has identified the key factors which drive wildfire outbreaks in the city. Professor Rein found that just 10 days of extremely dry conditions are enough to significantly increase the chances of multiple fires igniting at once. Professor Rein told the BBC: 'Once the moisture content of the vegetation drops below a certain threshold, even a small spark can lead to a fast-spreading fire.' Now, as the UK swelters in the fourth heatwave this summer, Professor Rein warns that London could face another firewave this weekend. During prolonged periods of hot, dry weather, the vegetation in cities becomes desiccated enough to catch fire. However, Professor Rein's research found that it isn't heat or relative humidity which is the best predictor of firewaves. Instead, the key factor determining whether fires break out is a measure of how much water the atmosphere can extract from the land called the 'vapour pressure deficit'. The higher the vapour pressure deficit, the faster that vegetation dries out and the greater the risk of wildfires. Professor Rein says: 'Vegetation doesn't just become a bit more flammable, it becomes much more flammable.' The conditions which make firewaves possible are now becoming more likely, as human action continues to make the world a warmer place. 'Climate change is bringing more heatwaves and longer dry spells,' says Professor Rein. 'These conditions dry out fuels and increase the risk of wildfires. That risk is much greater now than it was even a decade ago.' Researchers found that the most important factor for predicting urban wildfires is a measure of how much water the atmosphere can absorb from the land called the vapour pressure deficit. These graphs show vapour pressure deficit against the number of wildfires (left) and the hours the London Fire Brigade spent pumping water for hoses (right) Professor Rein's research, published in the journal Fire Technology, found that there were four separate firewaves in 2022. That is compared to just one in 2018, and none in any other year from 2009 onwards. In 2022, that led to the L ondon Fire Brigade's busiest day since World War II as multiple fires erupted across the city on July 19. That included a blaze in Wennington, East London, which destroyed 37 buildings, five cars, and forced people to evacuate 88 homes. This year, an exceptionally warm, dry spring, followed by multiple heat waves, has greatly increased the risk of fires. The amount of UK land burnt by wildfires had already smashed the all-time record just four months into the year, with 113 square miles having been burned. This week, fire crews have been battling a large gorse fire raging across Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, and the risk of further fires remains 'very high'. Professor Rein says he is concerned that wildfires, once largely limited to rural regions, could now pose a serious risk to urban populations. Scientists now warn that wildfires in urban areas across Europe are likely to become more frequent as climate change makes the conditions for fires to start more common. Pictured: A house burns in the Viseu district, Portugal, yesterday The researchers argue that the Met Office's definition of heatwaves doesn't reflect the extreme wildfire risk in some cases, and are calling for the Met Office to start using the term firewave He says: 'I worry about all other UK cities and other northern European cities in particular because climate change seems to be making green vegetation that was not flammable very flammable indeed. 'And these places don't have a history of dealing with wildfires, so don't have as much institutional experience as cities in the south of the continent.' London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall told Daily Mail: 'The risk of wildfires in London is currently considered as severe. 'Below-average rainfall this year, coupled with high temperatures, also means the chance of fires spreading rapidly when they do occur.' However, Mr Goodall also stressed that 'the majority' of fires can be avoided if the public behaves 'responsibly'. The researchers are now calling for the Met Office to adopt the term 'firewave' to reflect the risk of wildfires in the urban environment. They argue that the current definition of a heatwave does not properly capture the extreme fire risk that occurs in certain weather conditions. A Met Office spokesperson told Daily Mail: The Met Office provides weather advice to emergency responders during wildfire incidents and advice on potential wildfire conditions to the UK's resilience community through the Natural Hazards Partnership Daily Hazards Assessment (DHA). But the Met Office has no mandate to provide a public wildfire warning service for the UK, and no such service exists in the UK.' HOW DO WILDFIRES AFFECT LOCAL TEMPERATURES? Wildfire smoke lingering in the air can block out the sun enough to cause measurable temperature differences at the surface, even after the flames have died down. Scientists say the interactions between smoke and the sun's rays can either cool the air or warm it; when the rays are scattered, the air becomes cooler, while temperatures rise when the rays are absorbed. A study published earlier this year found that the cooling effect can even extend to river and stream temperatures. Brown carbon, in particular, has been found to have a significant effect, as it is more likely than black carbon to reach higher levels of the atmosphere, according to NASA. But, the space agency explains, 'as particulate matter in the atmosphere, both can interfere with solar radiation by absorbing and scattering the sun's rays.' Brown carbon is a major product of wildfires, as it's created when grasses, wood, and other biological material burns. 'Most of the brown carbon released into the air stays in the lower atmosphere, but we found that a fraction of it does get up into the upper atmosphere, where it has a disproportionately large effect on the planetary radiation balance – much stronger than if it was at the surface,' Rodney Weber, a professor in Georgia Tech's School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, said last year in a study on the phenomenon. Fires can also cause temperatures to drop by transforming the landscape, and increasing a property known as albedo – or the measure of light reflected by a surface. As vegetation is destroyed in the fires, there is less foliage to absorb the sunlight and its warmth. Studies in recent years have found that the resulting cooling effect can linger for years, particularly during the winter months.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
UK cities face devastating 'firewave' as scientists name areas most at risk
A rise in temperatures due to climate change has led to experts warning of a 'firewave' un urban areas. Hotter temperatures increase the likelihood of mulitple fires Brits in cities are facing a threat from a phenomenon known as ' firewaves ' as early as this weekend as climate change sends temperatures rising. Experts at Imperial College London, have been working with the London Fire Brigade to help predict when conditions are most likely to cause a so-called 'firewave', when long periods of hot weather trigger multiple urban wildfires that overwhelm emergency services. It comes following a large blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh and three separate heath fires in London amid a UK heatwave. Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, has said current forecasts could make London a fire risk by this weekend. His team's research says that dry weather 10 days in a row dramatically increases the likelihood of a number of fires igniting at the same time because of moisture being removed from vegetation. The Imperial College London team suggests the Met Office should adopt the term to reflect the risk of wildfires in urban areas during a heatwave. Rein has been working with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to help predict firewave conditions. LFB Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall added that he welcomed research that may help the prevention of fires. The LFB is "ready to tackle the threat of wildfires head-on to help protect London's communities and green spaces", Mr Goodall told the BBC. Professor Rein's research with the LFB looked at data going back to 2009. This helped identify what they think are the important factors that lead to wildfires in London. The factors include how much moisture can be extracted from the land, which is known as the "vapour pressure deficit". The more moisture extracted, the higher the deficit and an increased likelihood of fires starting. "Vegetation doesn't just become a bit more flammable," Professor Rein said. 'It becomes much more flammable." He continued: "Once the moisture content of the vegetation drops below a certain threshold, even a small spark can lead to a fast-spreading fire.' While most fires are started accidentally or deliberately by humans, a rise in temperatures is making the situation worse. "Climate change is bringing more heatwaves and longer dry spells," Professor Rein said. "These conditions dry out fuels and increase the risk of wildfires. That risk is much greater now than it was even a decade ago." He added: "I worry about all other UK cities and other northern European cities in particular because climate change seems to be making green vegetation that was not flammable very flammable indeed… And these places don't have a history of dealing with wildfires so don't have as much institutional experience as cities in the south of the continent." It is believed that urban environments like London could be the most at risk due to green spaces next to residential areas. In 2022, a summer in which London experienced temperatures of over 40C for the first time on record, the LFB experienced its busiest day since World War Two. Simultaneous fires broke out on July 19 that year. A fire in Wennington, East London, destroyed 37 buildings and five cars. A total of 88 homes had to be evacuated. "The potential for fires to spread into homes is very real," said Barking and Dagenham Borough Commander Blake Betts. "We're seeing more extreme weather events, and that's why the London Fire Brigade has adopted a much more proactive approach." The LFB has said it has invested in technologies such as drones to help with wildfire response, along with off-road vehicles to create firebreaks.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Hot, dry summers bring new 'firewave' risk to UK cities
Cities across the UK are facing a growing threat from an emerging phenomenon called "firewaves" as temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have term, coined by researchers at Imperial College London, describes multiple urban wildfires triggered by extended periods of hot, dry warning comes as firefighters battled three separate heath fires in London and a dramatic gorse blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh in recent days, as this summer's latest heatwave left vegetation across both capitals dangerously fires, though now contained, highlight the increasing vulnerability of urban areas to wildfires - a risk that was once considered largely rural. Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, has been working alongside the London Fire Brigade to help predict when conditions are ripe for a "firewave".Based on current forecasts, he believes London could be at risk again by this Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall said he welcomes any research that helps predict the likelihood of wildfires service is "ready to tackle the threat of wildfires head-on to help protect London's communities and green spaces", he added. Prof Rein's research finds that, after ten consecutive days of very dry weather, vegetation becomes so desiccated across wide areas that the likelihood of multiple fires igniting simultaneously rises detailed incident data from the London Fire Brigade dating back to 2009, combined with weather records, the team identified key factors that drive wildfire outbreaks in of the most important is a measure of how much moisture the atmosphere can extract from the land, known as the "vapour pressure deficit".The higher the deficit, the drier the vegetation becomes, and the more easily it ignites."Vegetation doesn't just become a bit more flammable," explained Professor Rein, "it becomes much more flammable.""Once the moisture content of the vegetation drops below a certain threshold, even a small spark can lead to a fast-spreading fire," he added. Most fires are started by humans, whether accidentally or deliberately. But a warming world is creating conditions more conducive to these blazes."Climate change is bringing more heatwaves and longer dry spells," Prof Rein said."These conditions dry out fuels and increase the risk of wildfires. That risk is much greater now than it was even a decade ago."While the researchers focused on London, concerns are widespread."I worry about all other UK cities and other northern European cities in particular because climate change seems to be making green vegetation that was not flammable very flammable indeed," said Prof Rein."And these places don't have a history of dealing with wildfires so don't have as much institutional experience as cities in the south of the continent." Managing fire risk Urban environments like London, with their abundance of parks and green spaces bordering residential zones, are particularly concept of a "firewave" is meant to capture the unique danger posed when several fires erupt at once in densely populated areas, which has the potential to overwhelm emergency services and threaten homes and happened in the summer of 2022 when UK temperatures exceeded 40C for the first time on 19 July 2022, London Fire Brigade (LFB) experienced its busiest day since World War broke out simultaneously across the city, including a devastating blaze in Wennington, East London, which destroyed 37 buildings, five cars, and forced the evacuation of 88 Betts, a borough commander with the LFB, has extensive experience dealing with wildfires in urban emphasises the serious threat they pose, especially when open spaces are adjacent to residential properties."The potential for fires to spread into homes is very real," said Cdr Betts."We're seeing more extreme weather events, and that's why the London Fire Brigade has adopted a much more proactive approach." To meet this growing challenge, the LFB says it has invested in new technologies and now play a critical role in wildfire response, providing real-time aerial views that help commanders map fire spread and direct resources where they are needed most."The bird's-eye view from drones gives us a huge boost in situational awareness," explained a spokesperson from the LFB."It allows us to target our efforts where the risk to life and property is greatest."In addition to drones, the brigade has introduced off-road vehicles capable of reaching fires in difficult terrain, such as heathland and vehicles can be used to create firebreaks – using water to soak the ground to help stop fires from spreading Imperial College London researchers argue that the Met Office's current definition of a heatwave does not adequately reflect the wildfire risk in urban propose it adopts the term "firewave" to signal periods of extreme fire danger in cities - a concept they hope will inform future public safety strategies and climate resilience Met Office has been asked for comment. Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
