With historic records in summer: what is causing the high temperatures and what will their consequences be in the country?

Over the past few days, across the country there have been event notifications high temperatures even exceeding 40°C in some cities in Chile. This happened in mid-December. even if astronomical summer has not yet officially arrived in the southern hemisphere.

The outlook for the coming months is not favorable, as according to the latest quarterly projections from the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC), temperatures will be above normal. heat waves and thermometers above 30°C will be daily throughout the country .

Meteorology’s climate projection corresponds to December, January and February 2024 which correspond to meteorological summer.

The high temperatures arrived in early December, where the strong heat immediately began to be felt, leaving thermometers above 30°C in some cities.

However, in recent days we have seen the arrival of extreme figures in the regions, reaching 40°C in the commune of Til Til in the Metropolitan Region. This caused wildfires and a hot air mass that hit much of the country. .

Among the reasons that cause the high temperatures, as meteorologist Gonzalo Espinosa Doggenweiler points out in La Tercera, there is the end of spring, so The Sun approaches its closest position in the southern hemisphere of the planet, what causes more sunshine in these areas .

Furthermore, the influence of winds which transport air masses of higher temperatures is added as is currently the case in the country, since they come from Argentina and thanks to the Andes mountain range, These must be compressed, which causes the heat in Chile .

Regarding the El Niño phenomenon, meteorologist Espinosa Doggenweiler emphasizes that it is a source of energy that causes increase the temperature of the Pacific Ocean larger than usual, which contributes to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere .

Eventually, it is necessary to add the global warming that exists on the planet . This is produced by the greenhouse effect caused by gases released into the atmosphere, which cause a greater heat balance . With this situation, The summer which begins on December 22 will be marked by very high temperatures for the country.

According to DMC Quarterly Report for December, January and February indicates this summer in the country mornings and afternoons will be warmer than normal in most areas From Chile.

The report specifies that maximum temperatures above normal are expected from Arica and Parinacota region, up to the Los Ríos region .

Due to the causes that provoke this situation, the meteorologist highlighted:

— For this year, taking into account the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and everything we know about global warming, with high temperatures producing the greenhouse effect, we can firmly say that the summer we are going to start this year On December 22, temperatures will be very high across the north-central, south-central and southern regions of the country. It will be characterized by a series of heat waves which will repeat over time and which will be more intense and longer in number of days. .

He adds that the existing maximum temperature records will be exceeded in all affected areas.

For the central and southern area of ​​the country, as mentioned in the weather report, temperatures above 30°C are expected between the Coquimbo region and Ñuble, mainly in the foothills and valleys. Espinosa, for his part, specifies that the thermometers will be higher:

— As for temperatures, This year, temperatures above 40°C could be recorded in central and southern areas of the country. mainly between the months of January and February, more precisely.

Regarding coastal areas, the meteorologist mentions that they will have milder temperatures in the Valparaíso region to the north due to the resulting coastal trough.

The extreme temperatures that will hit the country in the summer of 2024 will have a direct effect on the population, since they could suffer from heat stroke who can reach loss of consciousness and even in worst cases, death . Faced with this, several health specialists They called to hydrate during this season .

Added to this are the effects they cause on ecosystems, such as flora, fauna and mushrooms, which could be affected by forest fires which occur during this season, particularly in the central and south-central regions of the country that even though 99% of them are man-made, strong winds spread fire more quickly.

Meteorologist Espinosa points out that it is expected that heat and high temperatures will persist until fall 2024 because the El Niño phenomenon will remain on the national territory.