Europe is Not Ready for This Heatwave: The ESA Satellite Image is Frightening

Europe has recorded its second most intense heatwave of the year, breaking new thermal records and putting the continent's resilience to the test.

France, in particular, has reached its hottest day ever, with peaks exceeding 44°C in several locations, while June 23 marked the hottest June day ever recorded. This scenario has caused about 40 drownings in bodies of water, presumably as an attempt to escape the heat, and has left thousands of people without electricity.

The United Kingdom has also been heavily affected by the situation, with temperatures reaching 36°C in some regions. Several schools have canceled lessons and train services have suffered significant delays, to the extent that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, described London as a city "boiling over." Just as the capital hosts its Climate Action Week, the British weather service has issued a red alert for multiple areas, indicating forecasts of exceptionally hot and humid weather with likely repercussions on the general population. Similar warnings have been issued in Switzerland and Spain.

Emma Howard Boyd, former head of the London Climate Resilience Review and now president of the National Heat Risk Commission in the UK, highlighted a high-profile critical issue: the country's infrastructure was not designed for a climate like the current one. The problem, she explains, is not just about housing, which often lacks air conditioning. Even seemingly minor elements, such as malfunctioning elevators in multi-story buildings, can turn into lethal situations in emergencies, such as a fire. The London Climate Resilience Review documented the failure of as many as 18 elevators in housing blocks within a single neighborhood during the 2022 heatwave.

The path laid out by national policies to address climate change, Boyd added, must necessarily consider the most vulnerable individuals to heat stress, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women. The tragedy of such a scenario manifested on Monday in France, where two children lost their lives inside an overheated car. Extreme heat also compromises essential bodily functions, such as sleep and the ability to engage in physical activity.

The Satellite's View on Ground Temperature

For many climate scientists, the link between the frequency and duration of these heatwaves and climate change is evident and cannot be underestimated.

In this emergency context, satellite technology provides crucial data. An image, captured on June 23 by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite, reveals a substantial aspect: the Land Surface Temperature (LST). Unlike air temperature, LST measures how much the ground itself overheats, a value often much higher as rock and asphalt absorb heat throughout the day. The Sentinel-3, thanks to its thermal sensors, monitors the land surface, oceans, ice, and atmosphere, providing high-profile support for both immediate response to weather events and long-term climate monitoring.