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Sharjah 24
2 days ago
- Climate
- Sharjah 24
Summer 2025: A season of climate extremes unfolds
According to climate experts, such intensification of weather events is a direct result of accelerating climate change. Sonia Seneviratne of ETH Zurich and the IPCC highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of both heat and rainfall events globally. Fred Hattermann from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research adds that 2024 marked the first year the planet's average surface temperature exceeded 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels—a shift fueling extreme weather. This slight rise in global temperature significantly amplifies the risks of evaporation, leading to heavier rainfall and catastrophic flooding. 'With every increment of temperature rise, the risk of more and stronger extremes increases,' warns Hattermann. Gulf and Turkey scorch under record heat In the Gulf region, the mercury has soared past 50°C repeatedly this summer. The UAE recorded a searing 51.8°C on August 1, nearing its all-time high. Riyadh, Kuwait, and Iraq have seen persistent 50°C days, straining power grids and shrinking water reserves. For the first time, Turkey saw temperatures exceed 50°C, with the town of Silopi hitting 50.5°C on July 26. The country is simultaneously grappling with severe drought and thousands of wildfires. Asia sees historic rain and heat Japan broke its national temperature record this week with 41.8°C in Isesaki, northwest of Tokyo. The heat is altering ecosystems too — Japan's iconic cherry trees are blooming earlier than ever. In Hong Kong, August 6 brought the heaviest rainfall in over 140 years — 35.5 cm in just one day. A week earlier in mainland China, deadly floods claimed at least 44 lives north of Beijing. Pakistan floods, northern Europe bakes In Pakistan, 'unusual' monsoon rains have already killed 266 people — nearly half of them children. Punjab province recorded 73% more rainfall in July compared to last year, triggering widespread flooding. Meanwhile, Scandinavia, typically a refuge from summer heat, has seen Mediterranean-like temperatures. Finland experienced a record 22 consecutive days above 30°C. In Rovaniemi, north of the Arctic Circle, it reached 30°C — hotter than much of southern Europe at the time. Canada and beyond: Firestorms engulf forests Canada is enduring one of its worst wildfire seasons in history, driven by high temperatures and long-term drought. Similar wildfires have erupted in Scotland, Arizona, and Greece. The Copernicus Climate Change Service notes that smoke and greenhouse gas emissions from these fires are among the highest ever recorded for a northern hemisphere summer. Conclusion Summer 2025 has emerged as a stark reminder of the accelerating climate crisis. As scientists have long warned, global warming is no longer a future threat — it is a present and worsening reality reshaping our world.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Summer 2025 already a cavalcade of climate extremes
PARIS (AFP) -- Record heat, massive fires, deadly floods ... August has barely begun, but the summer of 2025 is already marked by a cascade of destructive and deadly weather in the northern hemisphere. "Extreme temperatures and precipitation have become more intense and more frequent on a global scale," says Sonia Seneviratne, a professor at ETH Zurich and member of the UN-mandated climate science advisory panel, the IPCC. "We are in the midst of climate change," Fred Hattermann, a scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told Agence France-Presse. "The risk of extreme events has increased significantly," he said, noting that 2024 was the first year in which the planet's average surface temperature was 1.6 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial benchmark. That deceptively small jump makes a huge difference. Higher temperatures increase evaporation, so that more water is stored in the atmosphere. This, in turn, increases the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. "with every increment of temperature rise the risk of more and stronger extremes increases," Hattermann added. Already in May, temperatures exceeded 50 C in the United Arab Emirates. On Aug. 1, the thermometer hit 51.8 C, just under the all-time record of 52 C. The entire Gulf region is suffocating: the Saudi capital Riyadh recorded temperatures of 44 C, while Kuwait frequently hit 50 C. As did Iraq, where air conditioning has become vulnerable to chronic power cuts, and water reserves are at their lowest level in years. Turkey saw the 50 C threshold exceeded for the first time: the town of Silopi on the border with Iraq and Syria reached 50.5 C on July 26. The country has experienced thousands of fires this summer amidst a severe drought. In Asia, meanwhile, Japan broke its all-time temperature record on Tuesday with 41.8 C in the city of Isesaki, northwest of Tokyo. The country's iconic cherry trees, emblematic of the archipelago, are blooming earlier than ever due to the heat. On Tuesday, Hong Kong saw the highest rainfall total for August in more than 140 years of record-keeping: 35.5 centimetres in a single day. On mainland China, a week earlier, severe weather killed at least 44 people and left nine missing in rural districts north of Beijing. 266 people, nearly half of them children, have already lost their lives in Pakistan due to torrential rains sweeping across the country. The 2025 monsoon, which started early, was described as "unusual" by authorities. Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, recorded 73 percent more rainfall in July than in 2024. People come to Scandinavia to seek cooler climes, but since July Norway, Sweden and Finland have experienced sustained temperatures more typical of the Mediterranean. Aug. 3 marked the end of a 22-day period with temperatures above 30 C in Finland: a record. In Rovaniemi, a Finnish city north of the Arctic Circle, temperatures reached 30 C, higher than in southern Europe at the same time. Canada is experiencing one of the worst forest fire seasons on record, amplified by drought and above-normal temperatures. Other parts of the world are also burning, from Scotland to Arizona and Greece. According to the European Union's Copernicus weather and climate observatory, total smoke and greenhouse gas emissions since the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere are among the highest ever recorded.
Business Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Business Times
Summer 2025 already a cavalcade of climate extremes
[PARIS] Record heat, massive fires, deadly floods... August has barely begun, but the summer of 2025 is already marked by a cascade of destructive and deadly weather in the northern hemisphere. 'Extreme temperatures and precipitation have become more intense and more frequent on a global scale,' says Sonia Seneviratne, a professor at ETH Zurich and member of the UN-mandated climate science advisory panel, the IPCC. 'We are in the midst of climate change,' Fred Hattermann, a scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), told AFP. 'The risk of extreme events has increased significantly,' he said, noting that 2024 was the first year in which the planet's average surface temperature was 1.6 deg C above the preindustrial benchmark. That deceptively small jump makes a huge difference. Higher temperatures increase evaporation, so that more water is stored in the atmosphere. This, in turn, increases the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up 'with every increment of temperature rise the risk of more and stronger extremes increases,' Hattermann added. 50 deg C in the Gulf, Turkey Already in May, temperatures exceeded 50 deg C in the United Arab Emirates. On Aug 1, the thermometer hit 51.8 deg C, just under the all-time record of 52 deg C. Muslim pilgrims walk as water sprinklers spray water during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 7, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS The entire Gulf region is suffocating: the Saudi capital Riyadh recorded temperatures of 44 deg C, while Kuwait frequently hit 50 deg C. As did Iraq, where air conditioning has become vulnerable to chronic power cuts, and water reserves are at their lowest level in years. Turkey saw the 50 deg C threshold exceeded for the first time: the town of Silopi on the border with Iraq and Syria reached 50.5 deg C on July 26. The country has experienced thousands of fires this summer amidst a severe drought. Pedestrians use their handheld fans on a hot day in Tokyo, Japan, Aug 5, 2025. PHOTO: AFP In Asia, meanwhile, Japan broke its all-time temperature record on Tuesday with 41.8 deg C in the city of Isesaki, north-west of Tokyo. The country's iconic cherry trees, emblematic of the archipelago, are blooming earlier than ever due to the heat. Torrential rains in Hong Kong On Tuesday, Hong Kong saw the highest rainfall total for August in more than 140 years of record-keeping: 35.5 cm in a single day. Workers work to remove collapsed scaffolding brought down by strong winds and heavy rain in Hong Kong after Typhoon Wipha skirted along China's southern coast, July 20, 2025. PHOTO: AFP On mainland China, a week earlier, severe weather killed at least 44 people and left nine missing in rural districts north of Beijing. Pakistan floods, Finland heat 266 people, nearly half of them children, have already lost their lives in Pakistan due to torrential rains sweeping across the country. The 2025 monsoon, which started early, was described as 'unusual' by authorities. Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, recorded 73 per cent more rainfall in July than in 2024. People come to Scandinavia to seek cooler climes, but since July Norway, Sweden and Finland have experienced sustained temperatures more typical of the Mediterranean. People sunbathing at Ounaskoski beach at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finland, July 23, 2025. PHOTO: AFP Aug 3 marked the end of a 22-day period with temperatures above 30 deg C in Finland: a record. In Rovaniemi, a Finnish city north of the Arctic Circle, temperatures reached 30 deg C, higher than in southern Europe at the same time. Mega-fires in Canada Canada is experiencing one of the worst forest fire seasons on record, amplified by drought and above-normal temperatures. Other parts of the world are also burning, from Scotland to Arizona and Greece. According to the European Union's Copernicus weather and climate observatory, total smoke and greenhouse gas emissions since the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere are among the highest ever recorded. AFP
France 24
6 days ago
- Climate
- France 24
Summer 2025 already a cavalcade of climate extremes
"Extreme temperatures and precipitation have become more intense and more frequent on a global scale," says Sonia Seneviratne, a professor at ETH Zurich and member of the UN-mandated climate science advisory panel, the IPCC. "We are in the midst of climate change," Fred Hattermann, a scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), told AFP. "The risk of extreme events has increased significantly," he said, noting that 2024 was the first year in which the planet's average surface temperature was 1.6 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial benchmark. That deceptively small jump makes a huge difference. Higher temperatures increase evaporation, so that more water is stored in the atmosphere. This, in turn, increases the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. "with every increment of temperature rise the risk of more and stronger extremes increases," Hattermann added. 50C in the Gulf, Turkey Already in May, temperatures exceeded 50C in the United Arab Emirates. On August 1, the thermometer hit 51.8C, just under the all-time record of 52C. The entire Gulf region is suffocating: the Saudi capital Riyadh recorded temperatures of 44°C, while Kuwait frequently hit 50C. As did Iraq, where air conditioning has become vulnerable to chronic power cuts, and water reserves are at their lowest level in years. Turkey saw the 50C threshold exceeded for the first time: the town of Silopi on the border with Iraq and Syria reached 50.5C on July 26. The country has experienced thousands of fires this summer amidst a severe drought. In Asia, meanwhile, Japan broke its all-time temperature record on Tuesday with 41.8C in the city of Isesaki, northwest of Tokyo. The country's iconic cherry trees, emblematic of the archipelago, are blooming earlier than ever due to the heat. Torrential rains in Hong Kong On Tuesday, Hong Kong saw the highest rainfall total for August in more than 140 years of record-keeping: 35.5 centimetres (14 inches) in a single day. On mainland China, a week earlier, severe weather killed at least 44 people and left nine missing in rural districts north of Beijing. Pakistan floods, Finland heat 266 people, nearly half of them children, have already lost their lives in Pakistan due to torrential rains sweeping across the country. The 2025 monsoon, which started early, was described as "unusual" by authorities. Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, recorded 73 percent more rainfall in July than in 2024. People come to Scandinavia to seek cooler climes, but since July Norway, Sweden and Finland have experienced sustained temperatures more typical of the Mediterranean. August 3 marked the end of a 22-day period with temperatures above 30°C in Finland: a record. In Rovaniemi, a Finnish city north of the Arctic Circle, temperatures reached 30C, higher than in southern Europe at the same time. Mega-fires in Canada Canada is experiencing one of the worst forest fire seasons on record, amplified by drought and above-normal temperatures. Other parts of the world are also burning, from Scotland to Arizona and Greece. According to the European Union's Copernicus weather and climate observatory, total smoke and greenhouse gas emissions since the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere are among the highest ever recorded. © 2025 AFP
NDTV
01-07-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
German Weather Station Records Driest First Half Of Year In 13 Decades
New Delhi: A weather station in Potsdam, Germany, one of the world's oldest, has recorded the driest first half of a year since measurements began more than 130 years ago, according to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The station, operated by the German Weather Service, has been running continuously since 1893 and is a key reference point for tracking climate trends. It helps compare current weather conditions such as temperature, rainfall and sunshine with long-term climate patterns. Fred Hattermann, a hydrologist at PIK, said, "According to current data, the station in Potsdam likely recorded a new all-time low in the first half of 2025: just 146.8 millimetres of rainfall, even less than during the same period in 1942 (158.5 millimetres), the previous record." "The long-term average for this location in the first half of the year is around 300 millimetres. Although January brought heavy rainfall across Germany, this declined sharply in February and was almost non-existent in March. In the following months up to and including June, rainfall was also below average in most regions of Germany," he said. Peter Hoffmann, a meteorologist at PIK, said forests are especially affected by long dry periods. "The damage caused in recent years is clearly visible in many regions of Germany and has not yet been repaired and the renewed dry spell is exacerbating the problems. In addition, the higher temperatures have led to higher water requirements for vegetation and the landscape. This is because the average temperature in Germany is now around 2 degrees Celsius higher than it was 100 years ago," he said.
