ESA`s Predictions and European Heat Waves!

CLAIM – “HEATWAVE” SCAM EXPOSED: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY USES LAND TEMPERATURES CLAIMING AIR TEMPERATURES! 

“The hysteria was started when climate sensationalist media outlets in Germany and elsewhere, like the Relotius Spiegel, uncritically cited a sloppily and manipulatively formulated July 13 report from the European Space Agency (ESA) that first referred to “air” temperature: “Temperatures are sizzling across Europe this week amid an intense and prolonged period of heat. And it’s only just begun.

Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland are all facing a major heatwave with air temperatures expected to climb to 48°C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia – potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.” The original ESA report continued, only later specifying that it referred to surface temperature (emphasis added): “The animation below uses data from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission’s radiometer instrument and shows the land surface temperature across Italy between 9 and 10 July. As the image clearly shows, in some cities,

 the surface of the land exceeded 45°C, including Rome, Naples, Taranto, and Foggia. 

Along the east slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, many temperatures were recorded as over 50°C.” Meant here were not the standard temperatures recorded at 2 meters above ground level that we always here in daily weather reports, which are much more relaxed, but rather those right at the ground surface. That crucial difference went unnoticed by media and journalists, who reported new record high temperatures. When careful readers exposed the ploy, the news had already gone worldwide. 

Yesterday, the ESA issued a (vague) clarification explaining the difference between surface and air temperature at 2 meters above ground yet continued to mislead: “Land surface temperature is how hot the ‘surface’ of Earth feels to the touch. Air temperature, given in our daily weather forecasts, measures how hot the air is above the ground.” The ESA did not mention how the surface temperature is much hotter than the 2-meter air temperature.”

Twitter | Archived 

WHAT DOES THE CLAIM SAY(SUMMARY)

A Twitter postdated July 22, 2023, by user @robinmonotti has been mentioned that the report published by the European Space Agency (ESA) on July 13 has been manipulated to exaggerate the extreme temperatures of the heatwave and uses land temperatures claiming air temperatures. Also, the ESA report was conducted to make temperatures seem more powerful and is not supported by evidence. The viral Tweet has 1.8 M impressions so far.

WHAT WE FOUND

Recent reports of an intense heatwave across Europe have been met with controversy and accusations of scaremongering. Claims suggest that the European Space Agency (ESA) manipulated heatwave temperatures by using land temperatures while claiming air temperatures. 

The ESA’s factual data provided valuable information on the intense heat wave’s impact on land surface temperatures. However, some media outlets failed to distinguish between land surface and air temperatures, leading to exaggerated claims of record-breaking air temperatures. Responsible journalism requires careful fact-checking and accurate reporting, especially in climate-related matters, to avoid spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary alarms.

In this fact-checking article, we will examine the accuracy of these allegations and shed light on the actual situation.

What is ESA? 

ESA stands for the European Space Agency. It is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to space exploration and research. Established in 1975, its primary mission is to explore space, conduct scientific research, and develop technology for space-related purposes.

ESA’s activities include Earth observation, human spaceflight, satellite navigation, telecommunications, and planetary exploration. The agency launches satellites into orbit and conducts space missions to study celestial bodies and phenomena. 

The Initial ESA Report and Media Response

On July 13, the ESA released a report on the heatwave, citing “sizzling” air temperatures in various European countries, including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland, potentially reaching 48°C on Sicily and Sardinia. Eager to report on such extreme temperatures, media outlets quickly seized upon the information.

Clarification from the ESA on Land Surface Temperatures

Five days later, on July 18, the ESA issued a clarification, revealing that the temperatures mentioned in the report were, in fact, land surface temperatures, not air temperatures as initially reported. The land surface temperature was described as how hot the surface of the Earth feels to the touch.

Moreover, the ESA emphasized that land surface temperatures are significantly hotter than the air temperatures commonly reported in weather forecasts. Air temperatures are measured at two meters above ground level, which tends to be cooler than temperatures at the ground surface level.

Some media outlets’ initial misinterpretation of the ESA’s report led to sensational headlines of record-breaking air temperatures. This misinformation spread rapidly, contributing to heightened concern and fear among the public.

To clarify further, our Climate Fact Checks team contacted the ESA to get clarification on the details mentioned above. Their reply is discussed below. 

‘’ESA does not forecast temperatures, either air or land; we monitor the Earth from space. In the case of Land Surface Temperature, that is not air temperature in the meteorological sense but indicates the actual temperature of the Earth’s surface, measuring the amount of energy radiating from the Earth (how the earth’s surface would feel to the touch), our satellites (e.g., Sentinel-3) permit to monitor them from space so scientists can better understand and forecast weather, climate patterns as well as to monitor other risk such as fires. For official potential new temperature records and extremes, we would like to refer to the WMO news: https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/wmo-monitoring-potential-new-temperature-records.

Periods of intense heat occur within natural weather patterns, but If there’s one kind of extreme weather that we can link to human-induced climate change, it’s worsening heat waves. Heat waves are getting hotter, occurring at a higher frequency, increasing the likelihood of sequential heat waves and being longer.

In recent years, scientists have done attribution studies and assessments to determine how heat waves are being influenced by climate change. In several, they’ve found that extreme temperatures were nearly impossible without climate change linked to human activities and our emissions of GHGs in the atmosphere.

The 2023 heatwaves have already been the topic of attribution study from the World Weather Attribution with similar outcomes:

Extreme heat in North America, Europe, and China in July 2023 made much more likely by climate change – World Weather Attribution

This year, this year, suppose increased temperatures from burning fossil fuels are the main driver in the more intense heat waves. In that case, something else is adding fuel to the fire (so to speak): the El Niño climate pattern that is developing in the tropical Pacific. It tends to drive up global temperatures and add to global warming caused by climate change. This could make 2023 the hottest year ever recorded.’’ 

However, this incident highlights the critical need for responsible journalism, particularly climate-related matters. Accurate fact-checking and data verification are essential to prevent the dissemination of false information and undue panic.

Conclusion

The claim of the “HEATWAVE” scam involving the European Space Agency has been debunked. The ESA monitored Earth from space and provided accurate information on earth’s surface. The controversy arose from sensational reporting and misinterpretation by certain media outlets. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible journalism and the need to verify information before presenting it to the public, especially concerning climate change and extreme weather events.

If you have any queries or come across suspicious content related to climate change or the environment and want us to verify them for you, then send them to us on our WhatsApp hotline: +917045366366

-With inputs from Nuwandhara Mudalige –