UK in danger from soaring mercury while Cerberus heatwave rages, expert warns

An incoming sweltering heatwave will have “huge implications” for public health and livlihoods, an expert has warned.

The ‘Cerberus’ heatwave – named after the three-headed monster from Dante’s Inferno – is headed for Europe, and although it will not hit the UK directly, we will still feel the heat.

The Mirror reports that future hot weather spikes could see our buildings acting “like greenhouses”, researchers suggest.

READ MORE: Weather maps show 'near gale' winds expected to batter Britain this weekend

Air conditioning could cause a “vicious cycle” as it becomes increasingly used to deal with high temperatures – therefore with a growing detrimental impact on the environment.

If temperatures reach 2C, which the globe is on track for, the country could face extreme temperatures which we are not yet equipped for.

Oxford University researchers found that the UK would see the relative demand for people needing to cool down grow by 30%, due to more frequent high temperatures, which will also go higher than usual.

‘Cerberus’, which has largely hit parts of North Africa and the Mediterranean, has seen temperatures reach 48C.

Switzerland will experience a similar growth in the number of people needing to cool down, in research conducted on countries which had a population of larger than five million in 2020.

Dr Radhika Khosla, associate professor and leader of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Cooling, said: "It has huge implications for public health and all sustainable development goals, including livelihoods, infrastructure, education, poverty and food and nutrition."

• 

  Inside life of suspected Long Island serial killer from powerful job to unusual hobby

In the published report, researchers called for “immediate, unprecedented, and localised adaptation” in order to tackle the rising temperatures.

Climate experts are claiming the world has just seen its hottest week on record, with heat rises across the globe. Affecting many holidaymakers, ‘Cerberus’ has hit Spain, Italy and Greece.

It is believed to be due to an area of high pressure over the southern Mediterranean, along with Saharan dust clouds making it worse.

It was the Italian Meteorological Society who named the heatwave Cerberus, after the mythological creature who guarded the gates of hell. Cerberus is a three-headed dog, who taunts sinners.

To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.

Source: Read Full Article