Heatwave temperatures across Europe have peaked above 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius), prompting widespread safety concerns. In France, temperatures hit a new high on Friday, June 28, peaking at a sweltering 114.6F (45.9C) in the village of Gallargues-le-Montueux. The temperatures broke the previous record of 111F (44.1C) during a 2003 heatwave that killed thousands. In the aftermath of these heatwaves, US space agency NASA has announced June 2019 has officially become the hottest month on record in Europe.
NASA said: “Europe’s massive heatwave is on its way out and it’s leaving a slew of broken temperature records in its wake.
“Many countries were gripped by temperatures above 104 Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) between June 26 and June 30.
“According to the World Meteorological Organization, June 2019 is now the hottest month on record for the continent as a whole.”
Satellite images snapped by NASA’s Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) reveal the true scale of the scorching weather.
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The NASA instrument measures our planet’s surface temperatures at different times of the day from the International Space Station.
In this case, NASA’s COSTLESS photographed Paris in France, Madrid in Spain and the Italian city of Rome and Milan.
All four populated areas are marked in a crimson red colour – temperatures peaking well above 68F (20C).
The higher temperatures can be attributed to the presence of more heat absorbent materials such as concrete and asphalt.
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Cooler temperatures are marked in blue and green colours and can be seen well outside of the big cities.
NASA said: “Although its primary objective is to monitor the health of plants, ECOSTRESS can also detect heat events such as the one much of Europe just experienced.
“ECOSTRESS mapped the surface, or ground temperature, of four European cities – Rome, Paris, Madrid and Milan – during the mornings of June 27 and June 28.
“In the images, hotter temperatures appear in red and cooler temperatures appear in blue.
“They show how the central core of each city is much hotter than the surrounding natural landscape due to the urban heat island effect – a result of urban surfaces storing and re-radiating heat throughout the day.”
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According to the space agency, the phenomenon can be explained by residual heat stored from the previous day in bodies of water, asphalt and concrete.
Without any way to dissipate before the next day, the trapped heat would compound the effects of the heatwave.
This effect, in turn, exacerbated the sweltering conditions in some places even further.
NASA said: “These measurements help scientists assess plant health and response to water shortages, which can be an indicator of future drought.
“They can also be used in observing heat trends, spotting wildfires and detecting volcanic activity.”