Heavy Rain And Floods Ravage Towns In Europe, Scientists Urge Govt To Wake Up: Climate Change. Climate scientists are troubled by the intensity of torrential rains and floods in central Europe that have devastated infrastructure and left at least 15 people dead. Flooding has caused widespread disruption as heavy rain continues in parts of Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovakia.
Joyce Kimutai, a climate scientist at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute, says this is exactly what scientists have expected with climate change in Europe. She said the death and damage, across African and European countries, show how poorly prepared the world is.
Another scientist said the European floods suggested that most of the water vapor came from the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Both water bodies have become warmer because of human-induced climate breakdown, thus more water evaporating into the air.
The intensity of heavy precipitation events rises by about 7 percent for each degree of global warming. But now, heavy precipitation events are more intense by 8 percent.
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Govts Should Invest in Climate Change Adaptations, Early Warning Systems
Storm Boris is the culprit of the devastation in central Europe, but the intensity and extremity are attributed to climate change. Reports highlight that the storm brought a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours to Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. Romania has been the worst hit with 700 homes flooded and hundreds of people stranded.
As the situation grows worse, scientists have urged governments to invest in early warning systems and resilient infrastructure and to keep aside funds for the rehabilitation of those affected by natural diseases and extreme weather events.
Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Grantham Institute, highlighted that its very much clear that even highly developed countries are not safe from climate change. He said that as long as the world burns fossil fuels, torrential rainfall and other weather extremes will only intensify, and make Earth a more dangerous place.
