Monsoons sweep Europe

Published on 10 August 2010 at 10:56

According to climatologists quoted byLa Repubblica, "terms we used to describe extraordinary downpours on Europe are no longer fit for what is happening today", so we may well have to include the word monsoon in our weather dictionary. Global warming is increasing the temperature and dimension of hot air masses coming from the Sahara. At the western side they collide with cool and damp airstreams from northern atlantic, resulting in heavy rains like those that flooded central Europe, where precipitation rates have already doubled. In the east they meet no opposition, causing heat waves and fires as is currently happening in Russia. "The energy of the system is bound to increase even faster in absence of countermeasures", foresees Repubblica, hoping that recent disasters put pressure on the climate conference of Cancun to produce results.

Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support independent European journalism

European democracy needs independent media. Join our community!

On the same topic