欧洲热“疯”了：四十度的夏天，和一个看不见的大盖子

Today we'll talk about a recent big event.

This thing has to do with the weather.

It's about 'heat'.

Recently, one place has been extremely, extremely hot.

This place is Europe.

Where is Europe?

Europe is very far from China.

There are many countries there.

For example France, Spain,

and also Italy.

Normally, Europe's summer isn't very hot.

Many people's homes don't have air conditioning.

Because before, it simply wasn't needed.

But this year, it's completely different.

This year's summer turned hot especially early.

And the weather is especially fierce in its heat.

How hot?

Let's give a few numbers.

In France, in many places,

the daytime reached forty degrees.

In Spain and Portugal,

in some places,

it might reach forty-five degrees.

Forty-five degrees — what does that feel like?

It's that when you stand outside,

in a moment, you can't bear it.

So why is it so hot this year?

Scientists have an explanation.

They say

it's because in the sky,

a 'heat lid' has arrived.

This word is a metaphor I'm using.

You can imagine it:

in the sky, there's a huge patch of very hot air.

This patch of hot air

doesn't move, doesn't leave.

It just sits over Europe,

like a huge lid,

covering all of Europe.

The sun beats down,

the heat is trapped underneath and can't disperse.

As a result, the people below

get hotter and hotter.

And this 'lid'

stays for several days,

or even longer.

So this round of heat

isn't just hot for a day or two,

but hot for a very, very long time.

This much heat

really can cost lives.

Especially the elderly, and children.

Their bodies are weaker,

they can't withstand such high temperatures.

Just last month,

in Spain alone,

more than a hundred people

lost their lives because of the heat.

This is very saddening.

So governments have started looking for solutions.

Some cities

tell everyone to go out less in the daytime.

Some places

specially open up cool rooms,

so people without air conditioning can go in and shelter.

And many people

go visit the elderly around them,

bringing them water and fans.

But what worries scientists most

is actually another thing.

That is:

this kind of high heat

is becoming more and more common.

In the past, a summer this hot

might come once in a few decades.

But now,

almost every year it comes.

This year hot, last year hot, the year before hot too.

Scientists say

this is closely connected to our planet

getting warmer year by year.

Finally, let's think together.

The weather getting hotter

sounds like it's far from us.

But actually,

it's right beside us.

This summer,

where you are, is it hot?

How have you been getting through it?

Finally, I want to ask you.

When the weather is this hot,

besides taking good care of yourself,

would you be willing

to also care a little

for the heat-vulnerable people around you?

For example, the elderly downstairs,

or the people outside delivering and working.

Sometimes,

a glass of cool water

can be a very big help.