Over 15,000 likely dead in Russian heat wave; Asian monsoon floods kill hundred more

[malaise]

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html
<snip>
The Great Russian Heat Wave of 2010 brought temperatures of 37°C (99°F) to Moscow today, and smog and smoke from wildfires blanketed the city for a sixth straight day. Air pollution levels were 2 - 3 times the maximum safe level today, and peaked on Saturday, when when carbon monoxide hit 6.5 times the safe level. The death toll from heat and air pollution increased to approximately 330 people per day in Moscow in recent days, according to the head of the Moscow health department. Yevgenia Smirnova, an official from the Moscow registry office, said excess deaths in Moscow in July averaged 155 per day, compared to 2009. The heat wave began on June 27. These grim statistics suggest that in Moscow alone, the Great Russian Heat Wave of 2010 has likely killed at least 7,000 people so far. A plot of the departure of July 2010 temperatures from average (Figure 1) shows that the area of Russia experiencing incredible heat is vast, and that regions southeast of Moscow have the hottest, relative to average. Moscow is the largest city in Russia, with a population just over ten million, but there are several other major cities in the heat wave region. These include Saint Petersburg, Russia's 2nd most populous city (4.6 million), and Nizhny Novgorod, Russia's 5th most populous city (1.3 million people.) Thus, the Russian population affected by extreme heat is at least double the population of Moscow, and the death toll in Russia from the 2010 heat wave is probably at least 15,000, and may be much higher. The only comparable heat wave in European history occurred in 2003, and killed an estimated 40,000 - 50,000 people, mostly in France and Italy. While the temperatures in that heat wave were not as extreme as the Russian heat wave, the nighttime low temperatures in the 2003 heat wave were considerably higher. This tends to add to heat stress and causes a higher death toll. I expect that by the time the Great Russian Heat Wave of 2010 is over, it may rival the 2003 European heat wave as the deadliest heat wave in world history.

Where's that LIAR Al Gore these days? :sarcasm:

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[gratuitous]

1. Yeah, but it snowed last winter

Sen. Inhofe just had the most fun, building an igloo and mocking the concept of global climate change! Ah haw, haw, haw! Can we run that footage again? It was just so rib-ticklingly funny! I'm sure the Russians would get a kick out of it.

[malaise]

4. You Betcha

:rofl:

[joeybee12]

2. Raping massueses, last I heard....

I'll see your :sarcasm: and raise you two :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[meow mix]

3. relax its just part of the alien plan to save earth from NIBURURU 2012

even though global warming is a myth!!

[Raschel]

5. Ditto relax. It's only about 9 % of the earths land mass. Sheesh.

[myrna minx]

6. How horrible.

I was in Chicago for their 1995 and that was horrible. So many people perished alone and it was heart breaking. :cry: