2003 EU Heatwave To Become Norm Under New Climate Projections - AFP

[hatrack]

"A French study finds global warming is proceeding apace, even under a best-case green scenario. Published jointly by the Pierre-Simon-Laplace Institute and Meteo France, the report looked at 11 climate scenarios with different concentrations of heat-trapping, greenhouse gasses.

The study's findings were reported in the French newspaper Liberation. In one case, temperatures could rise about 4 degrees on average and between 3-4 degrees in France by 2010.

Even in the best-case green scenario, envisioning a smaller rise in greenhouse gasses, could push temperatures up 2 degrees Celsius, according to the report.

Under such scenarios, France's 2003 August heatwave that killed hundreds of people was normal the newspaper reported."

EDIT

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=86158&cat=Science

[Dogmudgeon]

1. France (among others) was unprepared

And think of how much MORE prepared the French are for problems than WE are! (We = The USA).

On the other hand, we are able to make our victims of official stupidity disappear much easier.

--p!

[IrateCitizen]

2. Think of the increased energy demand for a/c throughout Europe...

One of the reasons this hit Paris so hard is that people don't use a/c there -- there never was a need to. Now, obviously, there will be a need to use a/c through a pretty broad swath of Europe that, to this point, has not used it. Of course, this will result in considerable energy demand.

I know that France gets a majority of its energy -- I think it's around 70% -- from nuclear, but all in all this cannot be a GOOD development, in light of approaching peak oil.

[Massacure]

3. I thought Europe was supposed to become similar to Siberia?

Wouldn't global warming cause the Gulf Stream to stop?

[phantom power]

4. It hasn't stopped yet.

But when it does, Europe should become cooler.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. That can't be predicted as well

The "climate flip-flop" (in William Calvin's words) could be getting started right now, or could take a full century or more to kick in. And yes, it might not happen at all.

I don't think France will become like Siberia except in the most extreme cool-down. Finland might be a better comparison.

--p!