Flights from Cork full despite heatwave
Corkonian holiday makers appear undeterred by the ongoing heatwave in Europe with Cork Airport saying all of its flights are still full.
A spokesperson for the airport, which operates numerous routes to Spain and Italy, told the Cork Independent the heatwave has had “no impact at all” on bookings.
It comes as intense heatwaves continue to grip parts of Mediterranean Europe, as well as southern USA, North Africa, the Middle East, and some countries in Asia, including China.
Wildfires continue to rage across Spain, Italy, and Greece, with air temperatures predicted to pass 40°C in the coming days.
This week, Britain’s Foreign Office issued extreme weather warnings for British people travelling to Italy, Spain, or Greece. A similar warning has yet to be issued by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
According to data collected by the European Space Agency, land surface temperatures on 17 July in both Bucharest and Rome reached temperatures of 45°C, while Catania in Sicily and Nicosia in Cyprus reached 50°C. Land surface temperature is how hot the surface of the earth feels to the touch.
Scientists monitor land surface temperature to better understand and forecast weather and climate patterns as well as monitor fires.
These measurements are also particularly important for farmers optimising the irrigation of their crops.
The agency says that as climate change takes grip, heatwaves such as this are likely to be more frequent and more severe, with far-reaching consequences.
Irish climate change
On Tuesday, Met Éireann published a comprehensive summary of Ireland’s climate averages for the period 1991-2020.
The most significant key finding was an overall increase in air temperature compared to the previous 30 year period of 0.7°C.
The research also shows that sunshine hours have increased by approximately 5% when compared to the 1961-1990 period, with May being the sunniest month of the year followed by June.
Met Éireann climatologist and project lead, Mary Curley, said: “We know that the atmosphere is warming and what we’re seeing at the local and national scale fits the international picture.”
The findings align with recent results from Met Éireann’s TRANSLATE climate projections which confirm the likelihood of a warmer and wetter climate annually for Ireland, in relation to future potential global warming under different green-house emission scenarios.
The report follows a category 4 marine heatwave experienced off the coast of Ireland last month which Met Éireann say is linked with recent extreme precipitation, thunderstorms, and above average temperatures across Ireland.
Data collected by Met Éireann showed some hotspots hitting category 5 which is classified as being “beyond extreme”.
Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore said: “The current marine heatwave around Ireland is likely caused by a combination of natural variability and background warming due to climate change.”
Met Éireann say the consequences of marine heatwaves are wide-ranging, severe, and irreversible. Impacts include ecological disruption, changes in species distribution, threats to aquatic life, and economic impact.