Copernicus recorded historical temperatures in Western Europe, a phenomenon associated with four heatwaves that occurred between May and July.
Copernicus recorded historical temperatures in Western Europe, a phenomenon associated with four heatwaves that occurred between May and July.
The report issued by the European Copernicus system points to a series of extreme events, characterizing the period from June to July as the hottest ever recorded in Western Europe. This period was marked by a combination of abnormal temperatures, exceptional drought across most of the region, high-intensity wildfires, and the occurrence of a record temperature on the ocean surface during July.
Additionally, a notable reduction in the water levels of several rivers, including the Seine, the Rhine, and the Danube, was observed. This decrease had direct consequences for water supply, irrigation practices, and energy generation in several countries.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which operates under the auspices of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, July registered the highest sea surface temperature in all time in the extra-polar oceans. The records observed across the Atlantic and western Mediterranean throughout Europe were linked to severe and widespread marine heatwaves, with the sea surface temperature reaching 20.96°C in July, surpassing the previous record of 20.89°C set in July 2023.
Copernicus scientists frame this new record within a broader climate warming trend, indicating that this phenomenon is not merely attributable to the El Niño event. These marine heatwaves brought significant impacts both to coastal ecosystems and to local communities. In marine environments, changes are observed in the migratory routes of various species, while in coastal populations, problems related to fishing, changes in aquaculture, and an increased risk to certain tourist activities are emerging.
The high ocean surface temperatures in July coincided with prolonged conditions of heat and dryness. The statement also highlights the strengthening link between extreme heat and drought. This cycle occurs because, when soils dry out, they lose the ability to cool the environment through water evaporation. The process unfolds as follows: higher heat causes soil drying; drier soils further raise the temperature; higher temperatures promote fires; and these fires, in turn, release more heat and cause vegetation degradation.
Laurence Rouil, director of the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service, clarifies that climate change is intensifying heat and dryness conditions, which favors the occurrence of large, high-intensity wildfires in Southern Europe. Furthermore, she adds that larger fires generate more smoke, which rises higher into the atmosphere, allowing it to travel greater distances and affect air quality not only locally but also thousands of kilometers away.
