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From: Jesse Ferrell (WeatherMatrix) (jesse{at}weathermatrix.net)
Date: Sat Aug 16 2003 - 10:27:58 EDT
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/hazards/index.html#Drought
"A severe heat wave that began in Europe during July continued in early
August. In the United Kingdom, temperatures on the 6th reached 36.4°C
(98°F) at Gravesend-Broadness, which was the highest temperature recorded
anywhere in the country since August 3, 1990 (37.1°C/98.8°F at
Cheltenham)(UK Met Office). On August 10, the all-time maximum temperature
record was broken in the United Kingdom, with 38.1°C (100.6°F) at
Gravesend-Broadness (Kent). In France, the summer was declared the hottest
since World War II (BBC News). Health ministry officials in France
announced that about 3,000 people had died of heat-related causes during
the period from late July through mid August (Associated Press). In
Slovenia, temperatures reached their highest levels of the past 100 years
(Disasterrelief.org). Numerous
<../../../../../img/climate/research/2003/aug/portugal-fires.htm>wildfires
burned throughout the region.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/2003/aug/europeheat2-pg.gif
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/2003/aug/europetemps-pg.gif
Dry, hot weather also caused acute drought conditions throughout much of
Europe. Officials in Croatia said the country was suffering from the worst
drought in 50 years, with the main river, the Sava, at its lowest level in
160 years (BBC News)."
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=11166
Large temperature anomaly images available.
"Europe is experiencing an historic heat wave that has been responsible for
at 3,000 deaths in France alone. Compared to July 2001, temperatures in
July 2003 were sizzling. This image shows the differences in day time land
surface temperatures collected in the two years by the
<http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov>Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) on NASAs Terra satellite. A blanket of deep red across southern and
eastern France (left of image center) shows where temperatures were 10
degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter this summer. White areas
show where temperatures were similar, and blue shows where temperatures
were cooler in 2003 than 2001.
Even the Alps, which arc across southeastern France, Switzerland, Austria,
and northern Italy (just below image center), are very warm this year.
Glaciers are melting rapidly and swelling rivers and lakes to dangerously
high levels. Climbers had to be evacuated from Switzerlands famous
Matterhorn after melting triggered the collapse of a rock face. The popular
climbing destination has been closed while geologists assess the
possibility of further collapses.
The heat wave stretches northward all the way to the United Kingdom,
particularly southern England (bottom of island) and Scotland (top of
island). In London, trains were shut down over fears that tracks would
buckle in the heat, while in Scotland the high temperatures combined with
falling water levels in rivers and streams are threatening the spawning and
survival of salmon. Throughout France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, the
intense heat and dry conditions sparked devastating forest fires that
killed at least 15 people."
-- =================================================================== Jesse Ferrell - Meteorologist / Webmaster / Founder - WeatherMatrix 6000 Weather Enthusiasts Can't Be Wrong! www.weathermatrix.net[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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