July 13, 2022
In June and July 2022, a heat wave hit Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, with temperatures climbing to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places and breaking many long-standing records .
The above chart shows surface air temperatures over much of the Eastern Hemisphere on July 13, 2022. It does so by matching observations with the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) global model, which uses mathematical equations to represent physical processes in the atmosphere.
He said: "While there is a clear 'atmospheric wave' pattern with alternating warm (red) and cold (blue) values in different places, this large area of extreme (and record-breaking) heat is another "Clear indicators that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are causing extreme weather to impact our living conditions," said Stephen Parson, director of the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
In Western Europe , which was already experiencing severe drought, a heat wave triggered fires that swept through parts of Portugal, Spain and France. In Portugal, temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 13 in the town of Leiria, where more than 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of land burned. More than half the country is on red alert as firefighters put out 14 blazes.
July 12, 2022
The image above shows fire detection locations in Portugal and Spain Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) at the Somi Nuclear Power Station Satellite July 12, 2022. Madrid Notable fire detection sites in the west include the town of Raschede, where more than 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) have burned.
In Italy, record high temperatures contributed to the partial collapse of the Marmolada glacier into the dolomites on July 3. Avalanches, ice and rocks killed 11 hikers.
In the UK, the Met Office has issued an amber warning as temperatures are expected to continue to climb, potentially breaking record highs.
In North Africa, Tunisia has experienced a heat wave and fires that have damaged the country's food crops. On July 13, the temperature in the capital Tunisia reached 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking a 40-year record.
In Iran , temperatures in July reach a high of 52 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit).
In China, summer brings three heat waves that twist roads, melt asphalt and tiles fall off roofs. The Shanghai Xujiahui Observatory, which has been keeping records since 1873, highest temperature ever: 2022 July 13, 2018, 40.9 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit). High humidity and dew points, combined with warm nighttime temperatures, create potentially deadly conditions.
"This extreme heat has a direct impact on human health, but also has other consequences, including the fires currently burning in Europe and Africa, and those that have raged across North America in the past few years," Parson said.
