An independent organization of British scientists has warned that this summer’s devastating temperatures are only a sign of what lies ahead. In London, temperatures remain around 37 degrees, while heat-induced rail expansion has caused train delays and cancellations.
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The situation is even more concerning in the southern county of Hampshire, where declining rainfall and extremely high temperatures have worsened the drought. Critical conditions have also been reported across the rest of Europe, with water supply emergencies declared in many areas, from Spain to the Balkans.
The effects of the drought are also being felt along Europe’s major rivers. The Danube has fallen to exceptionally low levels, disrupting navigation and energy production. Water shortages in Romania have led to the shutdown of a reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, while the Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary has been forced to significantly reduce production.
In Kaub, Germany, the Rhine has fallen to its lowest level since measurements began in 1880. As a result, several major chemical companies are shifting freight to rail and road transport, incurring high costs. Replacing the capacity of a single river cargo vessel requires up to 60 trucks.
The effects of extreme temperatures are also emerging in the United States. July was the hottest month ever recorded in 132 years of measurements by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), while the impact is being seen on the Colorado River, on which around 40 million people across seven states depend.
The Colorado supplies Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest artificial reservoirs in the United States. Their water levels have fallen to just 27% and 22.7% of capacity, respectively, marking record lows.
