China News Service, July 18, reported that extreme weather occurred in many parts of the world. Heavy rains in western Europe have caused more than 170 deaths. In North America, under the attack of high temperature and heat waves, wildfires continue to spread.

The analysis pointed out that climate change has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, and many single events have become worse due to global warming.

Heavy rains in Germany and Belgium have killed more than 170 people

Merkel will go to the hardest hit area

  Germany and Belgium have recently suffered catastrophic floods, which have killed more than 170 people. Rescuers are still struggling to deal with the damage caused by the floods.

On July 16, local time, Pepinster, Belgium, members of the rescue team punted through the flooded area.

  About 143 people were killed by floods in western Germany. According to police statistics, about 98 people were killed in the Ahrweiler district south of Cologne. Hundreds of people are still missing or disconnected. Many areas have been interrupted by the high water level and the outside traffic is interrupted. smooth.

  German Chancellor Merkel is scheduled to visit the hard-hit Rhineland-Palatinate state on the 18th to inspect the disaster.

Merkel called the flood disaster a national "tragedy" and promised that the federal government will provide support to help the disaster-stricken areas rebuild and recover.

  In Belgium, the National Crisis Center, which is responsible for the integration and coordination of rescue operations, pointed out that the death toll has risen to 27, and 103 people are still “missing or missing”.

  The World Meteorological Organization stated that climate change has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, and many single events have become worse due to global warming.

  Professor Ques of Theoretical Meteorology at the University of Leipzig in Germany said: “When it rains heavily, the atmosphere is almost like a sponge, and water overflows like a sponge being squeezed.”

  Climate scientists say that if the global average temperature rises by 1 degree Celsius, the water content in the atmosphere will increase by 7%, increasing the probability of heavy rainfall.

Other factors also determine the degree of impact in a particular area, including the local geography and pressure system.

  Tao Mi, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, said: “Floods always happen, just like random events like rolling dice, but we have changed the probability of rolling dice.”

High-temperature "roasting" wildfires spread in North America

The largest fire area exceeds New York City

  At the time of the torrential rains in Western Europe, North America is continuing to be hit by heat waves. The United States and Western Canada are in the 2021 wildfire season. There are more than 70 wildfires in the 12 western states of the United States that continue to spread, and many states have entered a state of emergency.

On July 8, local time, the "sugar fire" part of the Bakerworth Comprehensive Fire in California, USA spread in the Plumas National Forest.

The picture shows the smoke from the wild fire.

  The summer in the western United States is hot and dry, coupled with severe drought this year and a rare "high-temperature dome" phenomenon. The US media described the 2021 wildfire season as "the most severe ever."

  According to data from the National Fire Protection Center, 12 states are fighting 71 wildfires. The total area of ​​the fire is about 4,021 square kilometers. More than 14,000 firefighters and emergency personnel participated in the fire fighting. Oregon, Montana and other states announced their entry on the 14th. State of emergency.

  The biggest fire to date was the "boothound fire" that started a week ago south of Portland, Oregon. It has engulfed 227,000 acres of land, an area larger than New York City, equivalent to 130,000 football fields.

As of the morning of the 15th local time, only 7% of the fire was under control, at least 21 houses and 54 other buildings were destroyed, and about 2,000 residents were evacuated.

  The Oregon State Forestry Department stated that more than 1,700 firefighters and more than 10 firefighting helicopters participated in the firefighting. It is currently early in the mountain fire season. "It is rare that our demand for firefighting resources reaches this level."

  In British Columbia, Canada, there have been 309 fire spots. The authorities have sent troops to participate in the evacuation work in the province. This is the first time soldiers have been dispatched since the start of the 2021 wildfire season.

  According to reports, Canadian and American firefighting officials have upgraded their preparedness to the highest level, which is the first year to take action in 10 years.