Professor Dr. Sermin Tile, Dean of the Geography Faculty at Izmir Bakircai University and expert in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing, said that Turkey is located in one of the fastest warming regions in the world and where the climate crisis is most severe.
Recalling that temperature records have been broken in many parts of Turkey over the past 13 months, especially in the Aegean region, according to data from the General Meteorological Directorate, Tagul said the rise in temperatures has attracted particular attention, with temperatures in June last year reaching 10 degrees above the seasonal norm in some areas recently.
Drought has reached its most severe level nationwide
“The previous record was 16.8 degrees, recorded on August 12, 2016,” Tagur said, recalling that the global average surface temperature broke a record on July 22 at 17.15 degrees, according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Agency. “Turkey’s regions are not experiencing sufficient rainfall and the drought has reached its most severe level across the country,” he said.
Sermin Tar stressed that Eyam-i-Bahr, which defines the hottest and most muggy days of summer, will be experienced from July 31 to August 7.
“Our country, which was partially relieved at the end of July, will be affected by a heatwave in the first week of August during Eyyam-i-Bahr. This year, this period is likely to be affected by a heatwave.” Due to the influence of a low pressure system in the eastern Mediterranean, it will be hot but partially rainy. With these scorching temperatures and strong winds, forest fires are inevitable. Meanwhile, heavy rains continue to have an impact, as predicted at the beginning of the year. One of the most important reasons for such extreme weather conditions in Turkey is that for the past 13 months, temperatures have been above seasonal standards, which has correspondingly increased the moisture-holding capacity of the atmosphere and caused rain. Clouds form and precipitation occurs. When cold and warm air masses flowing into our country from the northwest and north meet, the moist air is cooled and precipitation occurs in the form of rain, hail or showers.
Emphasising that this situation is not only the same in Turkey but throughout the Mediterranean basin, Tagle added that it is more important than ever to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and develop adaptation strategies.
