Why was the planet thrown into such intense heat?

Despite the fact that the world’s top meteorologists are working around the clock to understand these issues, no one has been able to provide definite answers. Speculations abound, theories are proposed, but neither can they bring peace to humanity nor plunge it into utter panic. Nevertheless, efforts to determine the causes of this summer’s “apocalypse” continue. After analyzing numerous specialized sources, we concluded that all these hypotheses—whether based on thorough research or concocted by so-called “professional doomsters”—can be categorized into several groups. Here are some of the main reasons cited for the unprecedented heat:

1. Global warming.

Well, this provides perfect fodder for environmentalists of all sorts—after all, any self-respecting “green activist” feels like a fish in water when discussing these issues. “We told you! We warned you!” exclaim the defenders of nature. Indeed, over the course of human history, our activities have had a devastating impact on the planet. The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has created a “greenhouse effect,” making us nothing more than “weeds” suffocating under the debris of our own existence. That’s how Greenpeace describes the situation. For those who aren’t familiar with this concept, the greenhouse effect occurs when solar heat enters the atmosphere but is unable to escape. Additionally, human industrial activities have significantly warmed the planet, causing glaciers to melt and releasing massive amounts of methane. In short, it’s a vicious cycle from which, according to environmentalists, we will soon be unable to escape. However, some scientists argue that these climate changes are part of the natural climate cycles of the Earth. Over the past two thousand years, there have been three periods of warming and three periods of cooling—the last of which ended in the first half of the 19th century. The causes of such weather patterns are numerous, ranging from astronomical factors (such as changes in the Earth’s orbit and the Sun’s brightness) to more earthly reasons (like the weakening of the Gulf Stream). So, there’s no need to panic just yet—temperatures may rise or fall again, depending on whether humanity manages to reduce its destructive activities. That’s why various climate commissions are emerging, seeking new ways to develop while minimizing harm to the planet. Even prominent political figures are beginning to realize that climate change is an irreversible process, like a shot fired from a gun—if we don’t take action now, consequences could be devastating—perhaps even at temperatures of +500°C, when the Earth loses its glaciers and its poles shift drastically. And then… well, you can probably imagine what would happen then. Disaster movies and scary scenarios have always been popular after all.

2. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Let’s move on to more specific examples. Some experts believe that the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico played a role in causing the extreme heat in summer 2010. The severe weather experienced in Russia and Ukraine may have been triggered by that incident. Do you remember it last spring? At the time, the media quickly covered up the story, and BP apologized to the world, promising to remediate the damage. But according to some environmentalists, the scale of the disaster was significantly underreported. The desire for huge profits and the fear of public backlash led to a cover-up—sort of a British version of Chernobyl. As we know, Europe’s climate and rainfall patterns are largely influenced by the Gulf Stream, which is formed by the Atlantic and Caribbean currents, both originating in the Gulf of Mexico. The massive oil spill near the US coast deposited a thin layer of oil on the ocean surface, preventing evaporation and disrupting heat exchange. This, in turn, led to extreme weather conditions. BP—and, by extension, all multinational corporations—made a mistake, but once again, it’s us ordinary people who have to deal with the consequences.

3. Tests with “climate weapons.”

Whenever natural disasters occur in the United States, discussions about “climate weapons” immediately arise. People claim that these disasters are the work of Russia. So, could the severe heat in Europe last July also be the result of some dangerous experiments? Both Russia and the US possess such weapons, despite international prohibitions. In fact, there are companies that offer “weather modification services”—“Book a picnic, plan a wedding, or a romantic date? Just call us, and we’ll ensure perfect weather for you!” Such claims have become a reality. During public events and celebrations, clouds are deliberately dispersed using chemical agents, and few people question the potential consequences of such actions. The composition of these chemicals constantly changes, and as a result, we see bizarre weather phenomena like yellow snow in Siberia or hot anticyclones coming from Africa and Asia.

4. The launch of the Large Hadron Collider.

Some people blame scientists for meddling with something as fundamental as elementary particles—the very building blocks of the universe. This ambitious project aims to help us understand the basic laws of physics and provide valuable insights into the origins of the universe by creating conditions similar to those that existed at the Big Bang. It’s certainly a daunting task… But despite these concerns, the collider was successfully launched last autumn, and so far, it hasn’t caused any major problems. It’s operating quietly at a depth of hundreds of meters, manipulating quarks and other subatomic particles. Scientists claim this is perfectly safe, but many people still blame it for all climate changes. In the US, there even exists an organization that condemns scientists’ “tyranny”—after all, they spend their time conducting experiments while we have to worry about raising children! This group organizes protests and threatens to hang these “geniuses” in their own laboratories. Interestingly, the collider is scheduled to be shut down in the winter of 2012… Which, frankly, sounds a bit like medieval superstition. But, again, it’s unlikely that the July heat has anything to do with it.

5. The shifting of the Earth’s axis relative to the Sun.

Throughout history, the positions of the Earth’s geographic poles have changed repeatedly, and such changes are often linked to massive ice ages and drastic climate shifts. However, only the most recent polar shift has left a significant impact on human history—that which led to the extinction of the mammoths. While the mammoths disappeared, most other species survived. So there’s no need to panic just yet. The Earth’s axis is not shifting fast enough to cause catastrophic consequences. Nevertheless, if we deliberately accelerate this process by releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, climate change will accelerate dramatically… And then, well, you know what will happen. We’ve all seen the warnings.

Whatever the causes of these climate changes, life certainly isn’t getting any easier. We have to stop and rest frequently on hot days, drinking cold drinks and eating ice cream (although experts actually recommend drinking hot green tea in hot weather). Instead of cursing the unbearable heat, we might as well consider our own role in protecting the planet. For example, I decided to buy energy-efficient light bulbs, sign up with Greenpeace to protect Lake Baikal (just in case I ever need to move there), and vow never to fly again—I’ll buy an electric car instead. Such small steps can make a difference. It’s much better than wasting time and energy getting angry at the +38°C weather…

Ekaterina Vakulova