Greek scientists: Name heat waves to raise awareness of the extreme climatic phenomenon

Acropolis, Parthenon and Theatre of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece. Photo: AFP

Experiencing one of the worst years in terms of drought and forest fires, Greece is suffering the full force of the effects of global warming. To raise awareness, scientists from the National Observatory of Athens recommend naming heat waves, just like storms.

Extreme heat wreaks havoc, both from a human and environmental point of view. While natural disasters such as forest fires, floods and cyclones have existed for a long time, the summer of 2021 shows an amplification of these phenomena, accentuated by the climate crisis.