Scientists Predict Regular Heatwaves Of 30C And Above - In Switzerland

[hatrack]

Hot spells are set to become commonplace in Switzerland, with average temperatures due to rise by up to five degrees Celsius by the end of the century, say experts. Human influence on global warming is also growing, rivalling that of nature, and in the coming years the Alps are likely to be affected by more regular bouts of extreme weather.

These are just some of the conclusions by international climate specialists attending a three-day conference on "Climate variability and extremes over the past 100 years", in Thun, canton Bern, which ends on Wednesday. The meeting, organised by ProClim, a Swiss forum for climate and global change issues, has brought together 70 scientists from around the world.

Rising temperatures is currently a hot topic of conversation in Switzerland, with average temperatures for July poised to be the hottest for the month since 1983. Yet experts such as Martin Beniston, a geography professor from Fribourg University attending the three-day workshop, forecast more sizzling summers. "Average temperatures are expected to rise by four to five degrees by 2100, and on extreme days it could be up to ten degrees hotter than the high summer temperature we are now enjoying," said Beniston.

EDIT

Scientists at the workshop described the 2003 summer heatwave, when thermometers hovered around 30 degrees for several months, as a possible forerunner of future extreme weather patterns.

EDIT

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Experts_predict_regular_heatwaves.html?siteSect=105&sid=6922109&cKey=1153903390000

[havocmom]

1. Maybe some of the world's arms merchants will switch

to selling ice to Eskimos?

[NNadir]

2. It's really gonna get interesting when the glaciers in the Alps are gone.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Be even more interesting

when the States producing wheat become dustbowls.

[kaygore]

4. But, by golly, those oil companies will still be sucking up huge profits

That's what really matters!