Fire tornadoes can rapidly change fire behaviour and make firefighting more dangerous. Europe’s record-breaking hot and dry summer is fuelling major wildfires, with France and Greece among the countries battling large blazes. Scientists say some of these fires are producing an unusual and dangerous phenomenon known as a fire whirl, or fire tornado, in which […]
Spraying buildings with water collected from rooftops could help cities reduce the impact of heatwaves, a study has found. Using sprinklers in hot weather to distribute rainwater stored in water butts could cut air conditioning use and lower urban temperatures, according to research from the University of Manchester. Rising temperatures globally are putting pressure on […]
A summer of blistering heatwaves has resulted in record low water levels in Europe, curtailing river transport and drastically reducing electricity generation. Europe’s two great rivers, the Rhine and the Danube, have been seriously affected, resulting in a water-cooled nuclear power plant operating at just 10 per cent capacity and cargo being moved by rail instead. The […]
You may be spotting bodies of dead bumblebees lying across pavements near you in the summer months. There are several reasons for this, some to do with the weather and some very much due to humans. Bumblebees are social, living in colonies that are maintained by very active workers with a relatively short lifespan of 4-6 […]
A major new study warns that Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece are experiencing more ‘fire-promoting’ weather. Scientists have sounded the alarm over “major intensification” of fire-promoting weather in southern Europe, as large swathes of the continent continue to burn. Uncontained blazes have swept across Spain and France in recent weeks, scorching more than 120,000 hectares […]
Countries across the Middle East are sweltering under a summer heatwave with temperatures expected to approach 50°C in the days ahead. Weather experts said a heat dome – a high-pressure weather system that traps hot air over a region – has contributed to the scorching conditions. Arabia Weather – a leading online platform established in […]
Europe’s tourist islands are facing severe water stress. Is tech that harvests water from dry air a solution? When wells on his Ibiza property ran dry, Hashem Arouzi experienced Europe’s water crisis first hand. The British entrepreneur set about to find a solution – not only for himself, but for the thousands of island-dwellers whose […]
The wildfires blazing across Europe have been fuelled by extreme weather that has been made up to 20 times more likely than it would be without human-induced climate change, according to an analysis by World Weather Attribution. Back-to-back heatwaves and an early drought have created tinderbox conditions in western Europe since early July, with severe wildfires […]
Mangrove forests form an integral part of the natural landscape of the region and the UAE is home to several of these beautiful places. The Mangrove Photography Awards, in partnership with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, have an Emirates Award category to celebrate photos that showcase the beauty of the country’s mangroves. This year’s entries feature stunning […]
A new study says that obeying the speed limit could save millions of euros every year, while adding just 54 seconds to the average daily commute. Sticking to the speed limit can “dramatically curb” fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while saving drivers billions of euros annually. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities […]
