NASA Warns Spain Of 50C Heat Threat
Spain News
Published: 22 August 2023 19:51 CET
Until now, the highest temperature ever recorded in Spain was 47.6°C. This happened in 2021 in a place called La Rambla in the province of Córdoba in Andalusia. But there's a chance that our country could get even hotter, and those extremely high temperatures could become more common.
Carlos del Castillo, who works at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre in the US, has warned that Spain might break its current record and reach a scorching 50°C or even more.
"Yes, during heatwaves, it's possible that we could reach those temperatures (50°C). It's like turning up the heat on a stove, and the temperatures will continue to rise," he said.
Parts of the US, northern Africa, and the Middle East have already experienced temperatures above 50°C. Europe isn't far behind; the highest temperature ever recorded on this continent was a blistering 48.8°C on the Italian island of Sicily.
According to Del Castillo, the ongoing climate crisis makes it unlikely that this trend will reverse.
The reason for this is greenhouse gas emissions. We keep releasing more of these gases into the atmosphere. That's why there's no reason to think that temperatures won't continue to rise, the NASA scientist warned.
Del Castillo was one of four scientists who recently took part in an international press conference organized by NASA to discuss the impacts of climate change.
So, what can we expect for the weather in Spain in the future?
Del Castillo's predictions aren't very optimistic. He believes that unless governments significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuels, Spain will experience more heatwaves in the coming years.
"There will be more heatwaves, and temperatures will continue to rise, as we have already seen during these exceptionally warm months," he explained.
Not only will summers become more uncomfortable, but the expert also warned that snowfall during winters in Spain could become more intense too.
"The amount of water vapor is increasing due to the evaporation of seawater, and this can bring more rain, but also, strangely enough, more intense snowfalls," Del Castillo said.
How will life in Spain be affected?
The scorching temperatures will impact every aspect of life in Spain.
Key sectors of the Spanish economy, such as tourism, might decline due to the rising temperatures. It will also lead to higher sea levels, potentially causing flooding or eroding beaches that millions of people visit every year to enjoy.
The sweltering weather might even make some parts of the country uninhabitable, pushing people away from the interior of Andalusia towards the cooler regions of the country.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and certainly do not reflect our own views or opinions.
Source
https://www.thelocal.es/20230822/nasa-warns-spain-could-soon-reach-50c
