Is Britain set for permanent heatwaves? The latest hot weather has experts asking whether the country faces the same high temperatures this summer as it did last year.
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SOS! Light up the fossil fuels to cool down
Is Britain set for permanent heatwaves? The latest hot weather has experts asking whether the country faces the same high temperatures this summer as it did last year.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>
Jill Hembury broke the egg into a saucepan. She wanted to fry it - so she carried the pan to her car and left it inside. "The egg only took 20 minutes to cook," she says.
That was last July. We do not yet know whether the weather will be as hot this year. But many people are worried about the heat.
On Monday, after temperatures in the UK reached 30C, a coal-fired power stationA place where electricity is generated. was brought into action. It was needed so that more people could turn on air conditioning.
Around 20% of all the electricity used in buildings around the world goes into air conditioning. Fossil fuelsFuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming. helped to cause global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.. Now, we are burning more fossil fuels to help cool us down.
According to one weather expertSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject., the chance of the UK experiencing a hot summer is 45%. That is 2.3 times the normal figure.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>
With the heat has come the danger of wildfires. In SurreyA county in south-east England. alone there have been over 80 so far this year.
A new study by Bath University predictsSays what they think will happen in the future. that top temperatures of 41C will be common for much of southern England by 2100. So will weekly averagesWhat is typical or usual. of 28C.
Fifty years ago those numbers were 31C and 20C.
If the study is correct, it will mean big changes to the way people in Britain live.
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<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is Britain set for permanent heatwaves?</strong></h5>
Yes! The planet is getting hotter and we are not yet doing enough to tackle global warming. Britain, like all other places, will see its weather change.
No! Some years are just hotter than others. Not every year will be 41C in Britain. And climate change causes more extremeVery great, or beyond what is expected. weather, so some years may be very cold too.
Power station - A place where electricity is generated.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Expert - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Surrey - A county in south-east England.
Predicts - Says what they think will happen in the future.
Averages - What is typical or usual.
Extreme - Very great, or beyond what is expected.
SOS! Light up the fossil fuels to cool down
Alarming warming: Temperatures over 35C are a threat to health, particularly for the elderly. Glossary
Power station - A place where electricity is generated.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Expert - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Surrey - A county in south-east England.
Predicts - Says what they think will happen in the future.
Averages - What is typical or usual.
Extreme - Very great, or beyond what is expected.