"We do not understand what happened in Siberia just. This is a new phenomenon," explained at the beginning of July, the renowned German climate scientist Anders levermann from the Potsdam Institute for climate impact research (PIK). The Deutsche Welle has asked him.

Deutsche Welle: Siberia is currently experiencing a heat wave, which caused numerous forest fires. Now, high summer temperatures in this part of Russia is nothing Unusual, just think of last year. What exactly is it, what are you and other scientists are baffled at the moment?

Anders levermann: Us is, of course, that it can be in the summer in Siberia is very hot. And we also know that global warming in the Arctic Latitudes, particularly fast runs. But we have been observing since more than six months in temperatures that are, on average, seven degrees higher than it should be in the respective Season. This is not what we understand: Why stops this abnormal heat for so long? It is a new climate phenomenon that must now be explored.

What could be the causes?

It is obviously related to the flow of air in the atmosphere, with the so-called Jetstream. You can also think of it in the Form of a tape, the once around the earth in middle Latitudes loops, approximately at the height of Moscow and Berlin. But the more we warm the people on our planet, the more of this Band varies to the North and the South. These waves then lead the world to huge weather extremes, and droughts at the same time as well as to severe Flooding, although this sounds at first paradoxical.

That was already the case in 2010, when the whole of Moscow due to burning peat-bogs, the smoke was covered. At that time, the jet stream had remained standing and over large Parts of Russia, a stable high-pressure system remained for a very long time, there was no rain, fires it came from. At the same time a low pressure system over Pakistan, and these cases, in turn, led to such a strong rain and Floods on Pakistani soil, even briefly, the largest freshwater lake in the earth was created.

Why did not at the time of the Jetstream are? Why has 2020, over Siberia, a stable high-pressure area with sustained heat?

This could be related with the melting of the sea ice on the polar coast of Siberia together, it went back in this year. We have observations and theoretical physical model studies, concerning the Scandinavian sea-ice. If this ice breaks in the Winter, there arises often a stable high-pressure system. Because if it's gone, less sunlight is reflected back into space, and warms the sea and the adjacent areas. Something similar seems to be the case in Siberia. But I can only repeat: It is amazing how long that lasts.

One can well imagine that many Sibiriaken are quite satisfied, and this summer the bathing in its unexpectedly warm lakes and rivers to enjoy.

The current heat, however, leads not only to the numerous forest fires, but also to a further, deeper melting of the Permafrost in Siberia, which can lead to damage to Infrastructure - Pipelines, roads, buildings. It therefore increases the risk of serious economic consequences. On the other hand, the Thawing of Permafrost releases more methane into the atmosphere, and methane is a much stronger greenhouse gas than CO2. This is a long-term global threat, because rising methane emissions in Siberia would accelerate global warming and thus global climate change, what is there to prevent humanity either.

Now, there are just in Russia very many people who believe that climate change, if it does exist at all, is not man-made and therefore could not be stopped. And scientists who claim the opposite, is accused of, they served the ideological dogma. What would you reply?

This is nonsense! We have known for over 150 years, what are the laws of water vapor is subject to, we know for over 100 years, what is the CO2 molecule makes with the light. It has pure light, but that of the earth's emitted infra-increased red light out, and warms the planet and the temperature with increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. This is basic physics!

so, What needs to be done to stop climate change?

people always think that each individual must give something up. In reality, it is about learning to bring our economy to operate our technologies differently than in the past and the entire world economy to a fossil-free energy-get along carrier. This is not from today to tomorrow, but in 30 years, which is to create, and it must be managed.

Anders levermann is a Professor for the dynamics of the climate system at the Potsdam Institute for climate impact research (PIK). The 47-Year-old teaches at the Institute of physics of the University of Potsdam and Columbia University in New York.

The Interview guide Andrey Gurkov.

author: Andrey Gurkov

*The post "researchers warns that Siberia is experiencing "a new climate phenomenon known as"" published by Deutsche Welle. Contact with the executives here.