Brazil groans under extreme heat
Even before the start of summer in the southern hemisphere, large parts of Brazil are already suffering from a severe heatwave. In the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, the temperature felt on Tuesday rose to 58.5 degrees, as reported by the state news agency Agencia Brasil.
Temperatures of well over 40 degrees were also measured in other regions, particularly in the center and south of the country.
The National Meteorological Institute classified the situation in 15 states and the federal district around the capital Brasília as very dangerous. There is a risk of dehydration, headaches, nausea and circulatory problems.
The perceived temperature describes a person's perception of temperature, which depends not only on the actual air temperature but also on humidity and wind, for example.
According to experts, the current heatwave is linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon and global warming. "A heatwave in spring is not unusual. But there have already been four heatwaves in the last few months without us having reached the end of the season yet. Global warming has made the waves more intense and more frequent," climatologist José Marengo from the Cemaden research institute told the news portal G1.
The climate change and El Niño phenomenon are contributing to the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme heat emergencies in Brazil. Due to the current heatwave, the weather poses a significant risk of dehydration, headaches, nausea, and circulatory problems in various regions, including those officially classified as very dangerous by the National Meteorological Institute.
Source: www.dpa.com
