London, Europe Brief News – Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, released into Earth’s atmosphere in large volumes are trapping the sun’s heat, causing the planet to warm.
This has brought more extreme weather, including record-breaking high temperatures across the world.
Periods of intense heat do occur within natural weather patterns. But scientists say that globally they are becoming more frequent, more intense and are lasting longer as a result of global warming.
In the UK, the Met Office has warned that summers like 2018 are 30 times more likely now than before the Industrial Revolution – the point when humans starting producing the emissions that are responsible for climate change.
A report on climate extremes in the UK found that recent years have seen both higher maximum temperatures and longer warm spells.
That trend is predicted to continue. It’s possible that by 2100, the UK could see 40C days every 3 to 4 years.
Hot weather can be dangerous particularly for the vulnerable, including elderly people, children and people with underlying health conditions.
Spending too much time in high temperatures or in the sun, can cause health issues such as heat stroke and cardiovascular failure.
