Fires and Heat...How could this be happening?
The United Kingdom is experiencing a brutal heat wave where temperatures are surpassing 100 degrees Farenheit which is a record in UK weather history. Multiple fires broke out during the past few days and have burned down grassland, properties and homes. The fires originated in grass as the record temperatures continue soaring. On Tuesday, temperatures reached 104 degrees Farenheit at Heathrow Airport. A SkyNews correspondent, Laura Bundock, discussed her experience with the chaotic fires:
"It was like night fall near the fire, with winds moving the flames at a terrifying speed. You could see the smoke spreading though fields, fueled by brittle dry ground, which crunched underfoot," Bundock wrote.
"As the fire grew, we saw emergency services running through the village to evacuate homes."
104 degrees Farenheit in the UK? NO way it could be true!
Still even with the confirmed research and science some British people are still in denial about climate change. Stephen Belcher, a chief scientist in the UK’s Meteorological Office, never thought the day would come where he’d see temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Farenheit in the United Kingdom. He believed it to be unfeasible.
"Research conducted here at the Met Office has demonstrated that it's virtually impossible for the U.K .to experience 40C in an undisrupted climate, but climate change driven by greenhouse gases has made these extreme temperatures possible," Belcher said. "I wasn't expecting to see this in my career."
British Meteorologists Flustered with Public not Accepting Truth about the Climate
When a flustered meteorologist on GBN Live, named John, gave his report about the weather, essentially stating that the weather would be brutal over the next few days, a news reporter countered him and downplayed the seriousness of the matter.
“John, I want us to be happy about the weather. I don’t know whether something’s happened to meteorologists to make you all a little bit fatalistic and (chuckles) harbingers of doom. Because all of the broadcasts, particularly on the BBC, every time I’ve turned on anyone’s talking about the weather they’re saying that there’s going to be tons of fatalities. But haven’t we always had hot weather, John? I mean wasn’t it ’76….the summer of ’76—that was as hot as this wasn’t it?”
John, the meteorologist responded that the summer of 76 was a freak event but it was not as hot as the temperatures the UK is currently seeing.
As the heat temperatures rise, train stations are running close to empty and airport runways and highways are being closed. Nursing homes and schools have been warned to take steps to protect students and elderly people.
Coronavirus mixed with Heat Wave: Recipe for Disaster!
The heat in the UK is so severe that it will be able to cause serious illnesses and death.
Along with heat temperatures on the rise, Covid-19 infections are also on the rise in the UK and rest of Europe. Currently, Europe accounts for half of all coronavirus infections in the world. The heat wave is going to have a detrimental impact on hospitals. An emergency room consultant, Dr. Bronze, provided her thoughts about the impending situation.
“A lot of hospital buildings are very old, particularly in London, and many don't have air conditioning and windows that don't open – so they are extremely hot. Some staff still have to wear PPE – so plastic gowns, masks, gloves – on top of their normal uniform which, as you can imagine, means people are quickly going to get very hot and dehydrated."
Notorious Climate Deniers are Apart of the UK government
Many Tory or conservative members of Parliament do not believe in climate change science. Approximately 32% believe that human activity is not driving climate change and 10% believe that climate change is not happening at all. The Global Warming Policy Foundation is a lobby group based in the United Kingdom who is challenging the UK’s 2050 net zero climate action target. Michael Hintze, a Tory donor and Australian billionaire has funded the GWP Foundation and will receive a peerage in the House of Lords soon. The Global Warming Policy Foundation believes that there isn’t any evidence of a climate crisis.
I’m sure we’re all wondering how these deniers are feeling during these record-breaking, blazing hot summer days!
Independent Digital News and Media. (2020, March 4). Most Tory members don't believe established climate change science, survey finds. The Independent. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-members-climate-change-human-man-made-survey-boris-johnson-a9373221.html
Press, T. A. (2022, July 16). The U.K. gets ready for travel disruptions as temperatures may hit 104 F. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.npr.org/2022/07/16/1111866383/british-government-emergency-meeting-forecast-record-temperatures
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