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While Directorate General of Meteorology warns that extremely high temperatures will be effective across the country till the weekend, the highest September temperatures were recorded in 10 cities in Turkey on September 2, which has once again sparked worries about climate crisis.
Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Chamber of Meteorological Engineers Chair Fırat Çukurçayır has indicated that when the related scientific data are closely observed, it can be seen that the world has witnessed its warmest period in the last five years.
Specifically focusing on Turkey, Çukurçayır has said that extreme weather events, such as high temperatures, can be seen in the country, adding that these events need to be evaluated with the frame of certain disciplines. According to Çukurçayır, it would not be right to look at the dates of extreme weather events and call it "climate change" by making a generalization:
"Because climate is a state manifested by the average of at least 30-year meteorological parameters. If we only look at these years, months and days and say, 'September was never like that,' we may be mistaken."
'We are not independent of the world'
Çukurçayır has still noted that apart from daily and monthly evaluations, there is indeed a climate change depending on temperatures.
"We actually always think and talk about our own country, but the conditions of our country are not independent of the world," he has added.
Referring to the World Meteorological Organization data that they have been closely following, Çukurçayır has also raised concerns about the melting glaciers due to rising temperatures and the high temperatures in Siberia. "It is true that the world has warmed, but we cannot say 'it will be really hot' by only looking at August and September," he has reiterated.
Fırat Çukurçayır has further noted that "what is important here is the continuity or persistence of the temperatures."
"When the scientific data obtained in the process are evaluated, we can say that the last five years have been the warmest period of the world. It is not a coincidence, we are heading for a globally hotter period."
Record high temperatures in 10 cities
While the record high September temperature in Amsaya was 40.3 degrees Celsius (2003), it was recorded as 41.7 degrees on September 2.
When their September temperatures are taken into account, while the record high temperature was 37.9 degrees (2017) in Çankırı province, it was 39 degrees on September 2; while it was 36.4 in Eskişehir in 2017, it was 36.7; while it was 36.5 degrees in Kastamonu in 2003, it was recorded as 38.4 on September 2; while it was 36 degrees in Kayseri in 2003, it was 36.9; while the record high temperature was 38.2 in Kırıkkale in 2017, it was 40.4 degrees on September 2; while it was 37.8 in Kırşehir in 2017, it was 38.2 degrees this year; while the record high September temperature was 35.7 degrees in Nevşehir in 2017, it was 36.3 on September 2; while it was 35.1 in Niğde in 2017, it was 35.4; while it was 34.6 degrees in Yozgat in 2017, it was 35.1 degrees on September 2.
The temperatures are expected to be 8-12 degrees higher than seasonal normals in central anatolian and southern provinces today (September 4).
It is expected that record high September temperatures will be observed in Central Anatolia, inner parts of Western and Central Black Sea, Inner Aegean, Lakes Region, Eastern Black Sea and westerns parts of Southeastern Anatolia. (TP/SD)
