Heat Waves in Europe Nearly Twice as Long Now

[TechBear_Seattle]

Heat Waves in Europe Nearly Twice as Long Now

European heat waves are nearly twice as long as they were a century ago and the number of hot summer days there have tripled, a new study finds.

Researchers compiled temperature records from 54 high-quality recording stations from Sweden to Croatia and found that heat waves last an average of three days now (with some lasting up to 13 days), while they lasted only 1.5 days on average in 1880.

The researchers say their study, detailed in the August 3 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, adds to the growing body of evidence that western Europe's climate has become more extreme, likely as a result of global warming.

In 2003, a devastating heat wave hit western Europe, lasting 13 days in Paris and killing thousands in France and Italy.

The article continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070803/sc_livescience/heatwavesineuropenearlytwiceaslongnow