The devastating results of heat waves hitting Europe in 2003 and China in 2013 are still vivid to many up to this day. With the temperature rising by 20 to 30 percent higher than the average, such an occurrence has its deadly effects, not just on land but also on sea.
A heat wave, characterized by an extremely warm or humid weather during the day and night, would usually last for two to three days. It is brought about by the high atmospheric pressure and causes an increase in temperature with air from the upper portion of the atmosphere descending and circling as it goes out.
Here are the reasons why they are considered really deadly:
1. They cause health problems and take thousands of lives
Heat waves cause fluid loss, which when not sufficiently replaced will result to dehydration. It can also result to excessive sweating, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, nausea, fainting, organ damage and hyperthermia which may lead to heat stroke.
2. They bring agricultural loss
Heat waves trigger forest fire, which damages or kills plants and trees.
3. They lead to bigger consumption of energy
As the unbearable heat brings an increase in the use of water and electricity, a power outage is most likely to happen. Human energy is likewise consumed with too much sweating and dehydration.
4. They stress marine organisms and ecosystem
VOA News reported that Swiss environmental physicist, Thomas Froelicher, who examined warm blobs of water in the Pacific Ocean, points out that with the water becoming warm, a great number of fish moved to cooler depths of the ocean where there is insufficient oxygen, sunlight and plants for food. It added that according to NASA, "starving of starving sea lions and fur seals were found stranded on California's beaches."
5. They dry up bodies of water
Heat waves also bring drought and cause bodies of water to dry up.
With all of these ill effects that heat waves are likely to carry, they are certainly deadly to living creatures found on land and sea.
