'Hot Greece' – Which Region Leads in Temperature Rise

Scientists have determined that the average temperature in our country has increased by more than 1.5°C over the past 30 years. However, this increase shows geographical differences.

Northern Greece is the region that is warming up the fastest due to climate change. Scientists from the METEO department of the National Observatory of Athens published an article on September 11 in the international journal Atmosphere about the study of trends in the main climate parameters in Greece in the period 1991-2020.

Their study looked at the changing trends in temperature, precipitation and sea temperature over the past thirty years. The data analyzed came from the European Copernicus service. On the planet, the average temperature increased by 0.6-0.8°C over this period, in Europe by 1.2 degrees, and in Greece the average temperature increase was more than 1.5°C over 30 years. The trend in average daily temperature change over the three decades 1991-2020 for all the capitals of the country's regional units is increasing.

On average, the upward trend across Greece is around 0.05°C per year, meaning that the country's average temperature has risen by around 1.5°C over the past 30 years.

However, there are geographical differences. In many areas, mainly in northern Greece, which are far from the sea, the upward trend is about 0.07°C per year, meaning that the average temperature in these areas has increased by more than 2°C in 30 years. In areas of southern Greece, especially Crete, the upward trend is much smaller.

These studies are considered important for monitoring climate change in our country, as they allow us to determine where its greatest impacts are recorded. Dr. Kostas Lagouvardos, lead author of the study, Director of Research at the Institute for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development of the National Observatory of Athens, describes the results of the study on the rate of temperature increase in northern Greece as a “little surprise”:

“Of course, we suspected this from the measurements we have made in recent years with our very dense network of stations, and we were impressed by the fact that the data were much higher than usual for northern Greece. Over this 30-year period, the temperature is increasing faster. The whole of Europe is warming, but at different rates. In the Balkans and southeastern Europe, the warming is increasing. The study data shows that our country, together with other countries in the Balkans and southeastern Europe, is a hotspot for climate change.”

The study found that writes newsbeast.gr, and a significant reduction in the number of frost days across the country, with the largest reduction in northwest mainland Greece. An increase in sea surface temperatures of 1.5°C was also noted, with the greatest upward trend in the northern Aegean, the Ionian Sea and around Crete.

As for the annual amount of precipitation, a stabilization over the last 30 years was found, as well as a stabilization of drought periods. However, there was an increase in the number of days with heavy precipitation, estimated at 9-10 days, and, as the authors of the study note, “the increasing trend is associated with an increase in the frequency of flood events.” In limited areas, a tendency towards a decrease in the amount of precipitation and days with heavy rainfall was observed, mainly in central Thessaly, eastern Peloponnese and areas of Crete.

The study period covers 30 years to 2020, but it appears that high temperatures and the highest rate of temperature increase in northern Greece continue to this day. Mr Lagouvardos notes:

“When we first read the data for the last four years, this pattern continues. Temperatures have increased even more and regions in northern Greece again have significant deviations from their normal values ​​compared to southern Greece.”

Source link