Heat wave in Bavaria: where the temperatures rise up to 35 degrees!

Heat wave in Bavaria: where the temperatures rise up to 35 degrees!

Neu-Ulm, Deutschland - The first hot days of summer are just around the corner, and the predictions give nothing good. Temperatures of up to 35 degrees will be announced in Bavaria next weekend. This heat is not only uncomfortable, it also has profound effects on our cities. A current study by German Environmental Aid (DUH) has shown that many German cities, especially in southern Germany, suffer from extreme heat. The Franconian cities of Aschaffenburg, Nuremberg and Fürth, which are on the list of the most affected cities, are particularly affected. [Merkur reports that ...] (https://www.merkur.de/bayern/diese-bayerischen-staedte-s- vortal- von-hitze-93784135.html)

Surprisingly, no Bavarian city leads the negative ranking; Cities from Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse take the top positions. Mannheim comes out as the hottest city in Germany, followed by Ludwigshafen and Worms. In these cities, around 88 to 91 percent of the population live in highly stressed areas, which further exacerbates the health risks in view of the increased temperatures. In its analysis, the DUH examined 190 cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants and transferred the results into a heat fuel index. This makes it clear how dense buildings and missing city green affect the quality of life and the urban climate. [Spectrum shows that…] (https://www.spektrum.de/news/hitze-check-check-diese-deutschen-staedte-heizen-sich- vortex-stark-auf/2271263)

What does the situation in Bavaria look like?

In Bavaria we find in the red category-i.e. the particularly affected cities-Bamberg, Augsburg, Schweinfurt and Neu-Ulm. Even if Munich is classified in the middle category (yellow), many citizens see the effects of the heat. In the Bavarian capital, as in other major cities, the air often remains stuffy and the temperatures are high, without sufficient cooling at night. According to an analysis, we must not underestimate the heat -related challenges, especially in warm years, when such extreme values ​​are more common. Federal Environment Agency explains the phenomena of climate change…

The investigation of the DUH also shows that the temperature differences between the city center and the surrounding area can be over 11 Kelvin, which indicates a strong urban heat island. This means that it gets even hotter in the highly built -up areas of the cities dominated by concrete in summer than in rural areas. This is particularly worrying, since high temperatures can not only endanger well -being, but also the health of the residents.

What are the solutions?

In order to reduce the heat load, it is recommended to create more green areas. Trees, parks and water areas can reduce the temperatures locally and counteract the proven air conditioning systems in urban apartments. A green city not only offers a cooling shower on hot days, but also contributes to improving the city climate. The Federal Ministry of Building advises that it can be cooler up to 10 degrees under tree tops - a clear request to the cities to invest in the greenery.

Overall, the analysis of the DUH impressively shows how different German cities are prepared for the challenges of climate change. According to the numbers, many North German cities such as Hamburg, Flensburg or Wilhelmshaven are significantly better positioned compared to cities in southern regions.

The coming weeks could not only become a test for our patience, but also pose new challenges for the cities. It remains to be seen how the climate will develop in our cities in the future.