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國際時事跟讀VIP Ep. L024: Europe Breaks Under Record-Shattering Heat Wave
Highlights 主題摘要
- A powerful heat dome traps scorching African air over Europe, combining with Mediterranean marine heat waves.
- Spain and England shatter June temperature records while Portugal reaches deadly 46.6°C conditions.
- The Eiffel Tower closes its summit while nuclear plants shut down as systems buckle.
Europe finds itself trapped beneath a massive heat dome during early July 2025, as scorching temperatures from northern Africa combine with a Mediterranean marine heat wave. This meteorological event occurs when high-pressure systems stall over western Europe, acting like a lid that traps hot air masses for extended periods. Water temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea have surged nine degrees above average, creating feedback loops that magnify land temperatures while maintaining suffocating humidity levels. The western Mediterranean shows the most severe warming, particularly south of France, where rising sea temperatures eliminate coastal cooling effects.
歐洲在2025年7月初被困在巨大的熱穹頂之下，來自北非的酷熱溫度與地中海海洋熱浪結合。當高壓系統停滯在西歐上空時，就會發生這種氣象事件，像蓋子一樣將熱氣團困住長達數週。地中海的水溫已經比平均值高出9度，形成回饋循環，使陸地溫度升高，同時維持令人窒息的濕度。西地中海出現最嚴重的暖化現象，特別是在法國南部，海水溫度上升消除了沿海的降溫效果。
Temperature records continue falling across European nations as this brutal heat wave goes beyond typical summer patterns. Spain recorded its hottest June in history with an average temperature of 23.6°C, while Barcelona experienced extreme conditions since records began, reaching a staggering single-day high of 37.9°C. England simultaneously shattered its June temperature record with a mean of 16.9°C, marking only the second time such readings occurred since 1884. Portugal witnessed mainland Europe's highest June temperature recorded at 46.6°C in Mora, while countries including Italy, Germany, and France prepare for additional records to tumble.
隨著這波殘酷熱浪超越一般夏季模式持續加劇，歐洲各國的溫度紀錄不斷被打破。西班牙創下史上最熱的6月紀錄，平均溫度達23.6°C，而巴塞隆納自有紀錄以來經歷極端高溫，單日最高溫達到驚人的37.9°C。英國同時打破6月溫度紀錄，平均溫度為16.9°C，這是自1884年以來僅第二次出現如此極端的數據。葡萄牙的莫拉鎮創下歐洲大陸6月最高溫紀錄46.6°C，而義大利、德國和法國等國正準備見到更多紀錄被打破。
Critical systems across Europe buckle under relentless heat, forcing emergency closures and measures that highlight modern society's fragility. Paris authorities closed the Eiffel Tower's summit to tourists as the iron structure expands and tilts under extreme temperatures, prioritizing visitor safety during this exceptional weather event. Switzerland's Axpo energy company shut down reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant when River Aare temperatures exceeded 25°C, preventing thermal pollution that could devastate aquatic ecosystems. France activated red alerts across sixteen departments while closing over 1,300 schools, as emergency services responded to weather-related incidents.
歐洲各地的關鍵系統在無情高溫下不堪負荷，被迫採取緊急關閉措施，凸顯現代社會的脆弱性。巴黎當局關閉艾菲爾鐵塔頂層，因為鐵製結構在極端高溫下會膨脹並略微傾斜，在這個異常天氣事件期間優先考慮遊客安全。瑞士Axpo能源公司在阿勒河溫度超過25°C時關閉貝茲瑙核電廠的反應爐機組，避免可能對水生生態系統造成毀滅性影響的熱污染。法國在16個省份啟動紅色警報，同時關閉超過1,300所學校，緊急救援單位也回應了與氣候相關的事件。
Climate scientists emphasize that this extreme weather represents the new normal as human-caused climate change accelerates global warming beyond historical records. Europe emerges as the world's fastest-warming continent, heating at twice the global average rate while marine heat waves become increasingly frequent throughout Mediterranean waters. The current crisis demonstrates how rising greenhouse gas levels make it harder for Earth to release excess heat, creating cascading effects that transform moderate weather events into extreme situations. Experts predict that temperatures exceeding 40°C will occur annually by 2100, making adaptation strategies essential for protecting populations and critical systems.
氣候科學家強調，這種極端天氣代表新常態，因為人為造成的氣候變遷正在加速全球暖化，超越歷史紀錄。歐洲已成為全球暖化最快的大陸，升溫速度是全球平均的兩倍，而地中海水域的海洋熱浪也越來越頻繁。目前這場危機顯示，溫室氣體濃度上升讓地球更難釋放過多熱量，產生連鎖效應，將一般天氣事件轉變為極端狀況。專家預測到2100年，超過40°C的高溫將每年出現，因此制定調適策略來保護民眾和關鍵系統變得極為重要。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字
- Meteorological [adjective, relating to weather conditions]: This meteorological event occurs when high-pressure systems stall over western Europe.
- Magnify [verb, to make something appear larger or more intense]: Water temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea have surged nine degrees above average, creating feedback loops that magnify land temperatures while maintaining suffocating humidity levels.
- Fragility [noun, quality of being easily broken or damaged]: Critical systems across Europe buckle under relentless heat, forcing emergency closures and measures that highlight modern society's fragility.
- Devastate [verb, to destroy or cause severe damage]: Switzerland's Axpo energy company shut down reactor units when River Aare temperatures exceeded 25°C, preventing thermal pollution that could devastate aquatic ecosystems.
- Cascading [adjective, occurring in a sequence]: The current crisis demonstrates how rising greenhouse gas levels make it harder for Earth to release excess heat, creating cascading effects that transform moderate weather events into extreme situations.
Reference article:
1. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/01/weather/europe-heat-wave-global-warming
2. https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/heat/europe-swelters-extreme-heat-eiffel-tower-closes-top-level-swiss-react-rcna216434
3. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70rrlexnwzo
4. https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-europe-france-spain-portugal-c6c9e6da7e02a77a0818c03ba976ecc8