7 . Life-threatening heat waves in the U. S. and Europe, along with China’s record-setting heat, are directly linked to human-caused climate change, according to international researchers. These extreme temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere this summer, breaking over 2,000 high-temperature records in the U. S. alone, are heightened by global warming. Palermo, Sicily, saw a historic 117-degree Fahrenheit temperature, while a northwest Chinese town experienced its highest recorded temperature.

The team, including experts from the World Weather Attribution group, stressed that such events would be nearly impossible without climate change. The influence of El Niño, a natural pattern, is noted, but the burning of fossil fuel (化石燃料) is the main driver of severe heatwaves. Human activities have driven a nearly 2-degree Fahrenheit global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution’s onset. The researchers utilized weather data and computer models to analyze the impact of warming on ongoing heatwaves. Their rapid attribution report, though yet to be peer-reviewed, indicated that greenhouse gas release increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central, agreed with this conclusion, stressing the connection between rising greenhouse gases and heat occurrences.

Even a slight temperature rise poses serious health risks, as indicated by the World Health Organization. Heat-related illnesses, heart attacks, and strokes become more probable. Vulnerable communities, including low-income areas and communities of color, face heightened risks due to rising temperatures.

Last year, Europe’s heatwaves killed around 61,000 lives, predominantly among women. Similarly, a heat dome in the Pacific Northwest in 2021 led to hundreds of deaths in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Michael Wehner, a climate scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, warned that dangerous climate change is a present reality and demanded heightened awareness of its results.

In reality, the current heatwaves devastating various regions are basically linked to human-induced climate change. As the world experiences extreme temperatures, it is necessary to recognize the urgency (紧急) of solving this dangerous situation through sustainable practices and policies (政策).

10 . LONDON - Britain made meteorological (气象学的) history on Tuesday when temperatures in some places topped 40℃ for the first time ever recorded in the United Kingdom.

It was a day of hot milestones(里程碑) in Britain, where in the morning the temperature was 39.1℃, the highest level ever recorded in the United Kingdom. That record was broken about two hours later, when Britain’s national weather service said the temperature at Heathrow Airport hit 40.2’℃. If confirmed, it would be the first time that the temperature in Britain had gone beyond 40’℃. However, by the afternoon, the temperature hit40.3. The extreme weather brought great sufferings to the local people.

The hot, dry conditions also put great burden on emergency services. Fires spread in some areas of Britain and even other European countries. In France and Spain, firefighters have been battling wildfires that have burned forest and bush and in some places, forced people to leave. On Tuesday, more than 2,000 firefighters were facing off against a big fire in the southwest Britain that has forced 37,000 people to leave their homes this week.

In Britain, the government advised people to work from home, but for schools, to stay open - a request that some areas had ignored, sending students home.

Trains are particularly affected by high heat because the infrastructure (基础建设)-rails and overhead wires - is not built to deal with extremely hot temperatures. Network Rail, which operates the country’s rail system, issued a “do not travel” warning for trains in some areas. Several train companies said they planned to cancel all service running north from the capital. The London Underground, most of which does not have air conditioning.has also stopped some of its service.