Zach Crawford
1 minute and 42 seconds
to’ An exceptional heat wave affects South America Record temperatures continue on the cusp of summer. Temperatures are exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several locations in Brazil and Bolivia, with peaks of 44 degrees Celsius in San Jose de Chiquitos in Bolivia, and reaching 38 degrees Celsius in São Paulo in Brazil, one step away from the record. Not only are the highs noticeable, but so are the lows. In Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay, a minimum temperature of 34°C was recorded; The highest low ever recorded in South America;
This long heat wave poses great risks. Such as fires or damage to human health; In reality,
The National Institute of Meteorology issued a red alert for the central-western and southeastern regions and part of northern Brazil where more than 100 million people live.
In South America, even if they are used to the heat, it is very difficult to live at these temperaturesgiving some simple examples, in Brazil Buses are not equipped with air conditioning Street vendors cannot stay on the street because they risk fainting. To soothe the heat’s grip, she was there too Inconveniences caused by excessive use of electricityFor fans and air conditioners, this caused power outages several times in both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to the temperatures, there is severe drought This severely affects Brazil, where the Amazon River has reached its lowest level in the past hundred years.
What is causing this anomalous warming, in addition to the increase in global temperatures caused by anthropogenic emissions, is also the El Niño phenomenon Which is about to enter the most intense phase of its cycle: According to the latest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts, in fact, El Niño should see its warmest phase between November and January 2024. El Niño is a periodic natural event that warms surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Laurence Malcom
