The cause of unusual heat waves and recent forest fires

A series of unusual heat events and dry weather have led to intense forest fires in recent times due to climate change.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a warning on July 12.

The scene of a forest fire at Ziltendorf, near Frankfurt an der Oder, northwestern Germany, on June 26, 2019.(Photo: AFP / VNA).

WMO is particularly stressed in the cold land areas like Siberia and Alaska, which also occur unusual heat waves. Forest fires occur regularly with unusual and prolonged severity in Arctic regions. In Siberia, the average temperature in June has increased sharply compared to the normal average temperature in this region. Meanwhile in Alaska, record high temperatures - 32 degrees Celsius - were recorded earlier this month. The temperature soared and fires also affected many other countries in the Northern Hemisphere such as Canada, Germany, Greece and Spain.

WMO commented: "Climate change with rising temperatures and changes in the rainy season are increasing the risk of forest fires. In addition to the direct threat from fires, forest fires are also released into the atmosphere. pollution is harmful to human health such as fine dust and toxic gases such as carbon monoxite, nitrous oxide, and non-methane organic compounds ".

According to WMO, the Northern Hemisphere is warming at a faster rate than all other regions of the Earth. A new study shows that forests in the northern part of the Earth are burning at an unprecedented rate for at least 10,000 years.