VOA慢速英语：极热现象可能与气候变化有关

A massive heat wave is killing people in manycountries around the world.

Most die of heat stroke. Heat stroke is the most seriousheat-related sickness. It can develop when bodytemperature reaches 40.5 degrees Celsius (or 105degrees Fahrenheit).

A relative waits while volunteers search for a body of a deceased among people who died due to an intense heat wave in Karachi, Pakistan, June 22, 2015. (PHOTO / REUTERS / Akhtar Soomro)

Victims need water and other cooling measures.Untreated heat stroke can lead to organ failure and death. Those who survivecan suffer permanent damage.

Deadly heat in Pakistan and India

A heat wave in Pakistan will join this year's heat wave in India as one of the 10deadliest in world history. Extreme heat has killed more than 1,500 people inPakistan. High temperatures a few months ago in India killed nearly 2,200people. Temperatures in areas of India and Pakistan have reached as high as 47 degrees Celsius.

For Pakistan, seasonal rains are expected to begin in the middle of this month which will cause temperaturesto drop. The country should be free of the very hotweather that hit recently.

But Europe does not have a similar rainy season tohelp break the extreme heat. Millions there maycontinue to suffer temperatures as high as 40 degreesCelsius. The heat wave there began June 27.

Experts say extreme heat will continue in Europe

The World Meteorological Organization says it does not expect an immediateend to the extreme heat. It says extremely high temperatures and dry weatherconditions will continue in many parts of Europe.

Clare Nullis is an official with World Meteorological Organization. She saysmany people are comparing the current heat wave in Europe to that in 2003. That heat wave killed tens of thousands of people. But, she says this latestheatwave began much earlier in the summer season. It is also affecting amuch wider area.

However, she also says Europe is much better prepared to deal with the heatwave than it was in 2003.

Are humans to blame?

Omar Baddour is a climate expert at the World Meteorological Organization. He says it is too early to link the current heat waves to man-made climatechange.

Mr. Baddour says scientists need to make computermodels of the heat wave after it ends. He says themodel will be created from information includingaffected areas, temperatures, the start and end datesand duration of the heat wave. The model will helpscientists investigate the cause or causes of theextreme weather.

However, Mr. Baddour says the frequency and theintensity of heat waves seem to fit climate changepredictions.

Many parts of the western United States are also suffering from hightemperatures and extremely dry conditions. The WMO warns that the statesof California, Washington and Oregon are at increasing risk of wildfires as thedrought continues. The WMO says Canada is also preparing for severewildfires.

Extreme heat is also affecting southwestern and southeastern China.

Recent temperatures there have risen above 35 degrees Celsius.

I’m Anna Matteo.

Lisa Schlein reported this story for VOA from Geneva, Switzerland. Anna Matteo wrote it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in This Story

massive– adj. very severe

duration – n. the length of time that something exists or lasts

frequency– n. the number of times that something happens during aparticular period

drought– n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain