After All, It Is Summer …
- July 14th, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
Heatwave conditions eased a little this week with thunder-storms now over Northern Europe, but the last few weeks of a glorious, if uncomfortable Summer have fueled no end of health warnings and public chatter on the climate change theme
Many capital cities have seen temperatures persisting in the 40-degree range, and health authorities, particularly in France and the United Kingdom, have been issuing advice about protecting the young and the aged – fearing that some higher-than-usual death rates are starting to come through.
Britons were told they had just gone through the driest first six months of any year since 1953; heat warnings issued at intervals by the meteorological office, emphasising the impact of it.
The weekend episode (10-11.7.10) on the German inter-city train service (ICE), with the air conditioning breaking down on three trains, topped the list of high-sweat and heat-exhaustion stories.
It got up to 50-degrees in the trains, leaving hundreds of passengers fainting and distressed.
What to do?
In the short term, authorities have suggested drinking a lot of water, and as it is Summer, maybe some broad-brimmed hats might be in order.
Reference
Euronews, “Europe suffers in sweltering heat”, 14.7.10. www.euronewsw.net, (14.7.10).
The Irish Independent, Dublin, “A splash of colour as Europe swelters”, 12.7.10. www.independent.ie, (14.7.10).
BBC News, London , “Heatwave in Northern Europe”, 13.7.10 www.bbc.com, (14.7.10).
Management Today, “Retail sales boosted by warmer weather …”, 13.7.10. www.managementtoday.co.uk, (14.7.10.
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Geneva, Climate Change. www.wmo.int/ …, (14.7.10).
Picture physicalgeography