As near-record temperatures and wildfires struck the Mediterranean region, climate experts claim that the region remains the hot spot for the climate crisis.
Hot Spot For Climate Issues
Without a doubt, the Mediterranean nations are leading the way in Europe in terms of climate change brought on by human activity.
It was scorched by a record-breaking 16-day heatwave the previous year, which fueled the greatest wildfire in European Union history, engulfing an area twice the size of Athens in flames over July and August. Numerous individuals were hurt, and at least 28 people died.
It is well known that temperatures in Europe are rising at a rate that is almost twice as fast as the rest of the world. A new report from Copernicus, the climate agency of the European Union, and the World Meteorological Organization of the UN supports that.
According to Copernicus, the warming is most pronounced in the summer over central and southeast Europe as well as the Mediterranean region.
Dr. Kostas Lagouvardos from the National Observatory of Athens said the Mediterranean region is a hotspot for climate issues. He noted that countries in northern Africa, southern Italy, Cyprus, and Turkey are also severely affected by the rising temperatures.
He also mentioned that the eastern Mediterranean is heating up particularly quickly. According to a NOA study, Greece's general temperature has increased by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius over the last 30 to 40 years, which is a very substantial leap for such a short period of time.
A 2020 study suggests that the Mediterranean region will experience substantial drought in the upcoming decades, with probable precipitation reductions of up to 40% during the winter rainy season.
Experts said two distinct consequences of a warmer climate-a modification in the upper atmospheric circulation dynamics and a decrease in the temperature differential between land and sea-combine to cause the anticipated drying of the Mediterranean region.
The unusual decrease in rainfall cannot be explained by each event alone, but when combined, the two processes can completely explain the distinct drying trend observed in the models.
Vulnerability Of Greece
Climate experts believe that Greece is vulnerable to climate change due to the presence of numerous islands exposed to the sea, especially to high winds. The nation is a peculiar patchwork of sea and land.
Due to Greece's closeness to Africa, warm air masses frequently cross the ocean. This occurred earlier this month, when the heatwave was fueled by scorching, dust-bearing winds from northern Africa.
The Aegean Sea is currently being affected by strong, dry northern winds known as the "Etesians," which are primarily felt in the country's eastern regions, including Athens. Although they are beginning to appear earlier in June, they usually take the stage in July and August.
That's a problem, says Dr. Lagouvardos, because high winds combined with dry, hot weather produce "the worst scenario" for forest fires.
According to the expert, Greece differs from other Mediterranean countries in terms of climate consequences, mostly because of the disproportionately high frequency of forest fires.
To combat this yearly occurrence, experts are considering a variety of approaches and forest management strategies, including the use of technology like temperature monitors and drones.
In 2021, Greece established the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in response to the catastrophic wildfires that summer.
Politicians in the nation often speak about the problem in far stronger terms than many of their counterparts in northern Europe, which is indicative of their front-line status.
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