Australia, the apocalyptic consequences of record heat
Environment — di Elisabetta Scuri
Bats falling from trees, fish dying, fruit cooking before it can be harvested: exceptionally high temperatures are putting Australia to the test.
Australia, the apocalyptic consequences of record heat
Bats falling from trees, fish dying, fruit cooking before it can be harvested: exceptionally high temperatures are putting Australia to the test.
For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, summer feels like a very distant memory right now. In recent days, a winter cyclone has swept across our peninsula, bringing bitter temperatures to almost everywhere. While many were eagerly awaiting snowfall, we can't help feeling a twinge of envy looking at photos of those in the southern hemisphere enjoying the warm season. After all, January feels like the longest month of the year, and we're already dreaming of the holidays ahead, fantasising about places we'd love to visit and the warm sand we wish we could feel beneath our feet right now. In reality, we have absolutely nothing to envy the Australians.
The past 4 days are in Australia's top 10 warmest days on record—and the trend looks like continuing today. The nights have been warm too, which is what defines #heatwave conditions ow.ly/LKhV30nkqMR Stay cool, check on loved ones & follow advice from health authorities
Temperatures above 30 degrees even at night
12, 13, 14 and 15 January were among the ten hottest days in Australia's history. Residents of Marble Bar, in the north-west of the country, had to endure temperatures above 40 degrees for 22 consecutive days, with peaks of 50 degrees. In Noona, in the south-east, a night-time temperature of 35.9 degrees was the highest minimum ever recorded. It is so hot that bats are falling unconscious from trees, stone fruit is cooking before it can be harvested, and at least one million fish have died due to drought and oxygen depletion in rivers.
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Forty wild horses have died
Heartbreaking images are coming from the indigenous community of Santa Teresa, in the heart of Australia. Forty wild horses were found dead near a dried-up waterhole. Another fifty, which were in an obvious state of dehydration, were rescued by rangers. "I can't believe something like this has happened: it's the first time it has ever occurred," said a bewildered Ralph Turner, who came across the animals' carcasses while monitoring the area.
Read also: An American icon at risk, drought threatens the survival of wild horses
A health emergency
People are also at risk, especially the elderly. A health alert has been issued in Sydney and New South Wales, urging residents to go out as little as possible. During the Australian Open, the famous tennis tournament held every year in Melbourne in the third and fourth weeks of January, German tennis player Andrea Petkovic fainted due to the scorching temperatures.
Australia's outskirts are burning up
A study carried out by supporters of the 202020 Vision project, which aims to increase green spaces in urban areas by 20 per cent by 2020, has shown that heat is not distributed evenly across Australian territory. Neighbouring districts can have very different temperatures; within cities, the hottest areas are the outlying ones. In the suburbs, what are known as "heat continents" are thus created.
To counter this phenomenon and protect the poorest citizens, urban forestry is essential: according to the United Nations, "trees, by providing shade and cooling the air, help mitigate heatwaves and lessen the effects of climate change". It is important that each of us leads a sustainable lifestyle; at that point, we can rely on nature's capacity to protect us.