European heat wave kills thousands

[Bereta_Eder]

I see. On the other hand a small rain can flood Athens whereas in Belgium everything is business as usual even in a -10C snowfall.

[alva]

Doesn't get that cold here often , but yes that's the idea

[Bereta_Eder]

The first time I arrived at Belgium at 10 years old, the temperature was at -17C. The worse winter in the country for decades from what I was told.

I remember it quite vividly. I was the blue icestick standing in the bus station

[Japher]

I think it is sad that so many French people are dying... why is it only in France? isnt the heat wave affecting other countries?

Anyway, what should be done about it?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Japher
I think it is sad that so many French people are dying... why is it only in France? isnt the heat wave affecting other countries?

Anyway, what should be done about it?

I suppose the heat wave has been even worse in France than in other countries, and the French government has just released the figures, which explains why it is under the spotlight of this article.

Paiktis:
This Greek idea is good. I am not aware if it has been done or not in France. In any ways, I think I'll e-mail the idea to the ministry.

[Japher]

maybe the French just don't know how to count, or are blowing the numbers up just to get some sympathy... would be a nice change from getting bashed

if only I had my Star Destroyer to have hover over Paris and give them some shade...

[Q Classic]

Let's all ignore it and it will all go away...

what, europe or the heatwave?

[Az]

[q] Originally posted by BeBro

And fans and air conditions are evil, because they use more energy,

LOLOLOLROTF. Not if the energy comes from a great clean source... like nuke plants.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by Asher
34C again today here.

We have had several 40*C days in San this summer (Like most summers) it is not a problem here.

[Berzerker]

It's Bush's fault!!!

I heard that parts of central Europe is predicted to become a desert within 60 years unless we start doing something about it soon.

Predicted by whom? I'm compiling a list of nutcase activists and need their name. Take a look at temp graphs put out by paleo-climatologists and you'll see just how moderate historical temps have been. I'd be worried about the next ice advance and what triggers them...

[mrmitchell]

I'd be worried about the next ice advance and what triggers them...

It's possible that all the fuel burning and deforestation IS the trigger.

[St Leo]

I'd be worried about the next ice advance and what triggers them...

Why? In case of an ice age, we can always dump loads of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Global warming is much harder to deal with.

[Japher]

Why? In case of an ice age, we can always dump loads of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Global warming is much harder to deal with.

It is my understanding that global warming can cause an ice age, and dumping greenhouse gases probably wouldn't help.

Global Warming -> melt ice caps -> alter trade wind, floods -> if the winds decide to move from polar regions south/north it could refrease the water where it wasn't before -> ice age

[Combat Ingrid]

Originally posted by paiktis22
The first time I arrived at Belgium at 10 years old, the temperature was at -17C. The worse winter in the country for decades from what I was told.

I remember it quite vividly. I was the blue icestick standing in the bus station

Wimp!
-17C is a rather typical winter temperature where I live (northern Sweden). Actually, I prefer when it gets below -30C. There's virtually no people or traffic on the streets when it's this cold so it's really nice to go out for a walk, just remember to wear warm clothes
Also, it's always very entertaining to see how my Chinese friends suffer during the coldest winter weeks

[Dinner]

Originally posted by St Leo
I'd be worried about the next ice advance and what triggers them...

Why? In case of an ice age, we can always dump loads of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Global warming is much harder to deal with.

Actually... An increase in global temperatures is likely to result in a new global iceage as increased evaporation slightly changes the ocean's salinity causing ocean currents to change to a more east-west orientation instead of the tropics to the polls style currents we have now.

Supposedly, as the salinity increases the density of the surface water increases and the ocean currents dive deeper instead of staying mostly on the surface as they currently do. This means less heat energy will make it to the extreme north or south thus resulting in a cooling trend. This is what is thought to have caused the mini-ice age after the midevial warm period.