We are all painfully aware of the heatwave that has struck the UK in the last week as we have all struggled to cope with the record-high temperatures. This heatwave has brought to mind, for those old enough, the famous heatwave of 1976, which was marked by extreme weather conditions, a severe drought, and significant societal impacts. Some people believe that we are overreacting about the severity of this heat wave and its climate consequences and that the Met Office is creating unnecessary ‘hysteria’ since it’s been happening for nearly half a century. But what we are experiencing now, is not the same as what happened then.
Here are 6 reasons why the heatwave of 1976 is different to 2022:
1. Historical Context of the 1976 Heatwave
The 1976 heatwave stands out as a landmark event in UK history, not just for its intensity but also for the severe drought that gripped the British Isles. This period was marked by a very long dry period that began in the summer and autumn of 1975 and extended through the winter of 1975-76 and into the spring of 1976. Some areas experienced months without a single drop of rain, leading to one of the most severe droughts in the 20th century. The summer of 1976 was recorded as the warmest summer in the Central England temperature series until it was eventually surpassed in the 21st century. This combination of extreme heat and prolonged dryness had a profound impact on the environment and public health, making the 1976 heatwave a significant historical event.
2. The record temperatures are shattering previous records.
In 1976, the highest June temperature recorded was 35.6 degrees in Southampton, and the maximum temperature recorded that year was 35.9 degrees. The recent heatwave exceeded this by over 4 degrees, shattering the previous highest temperature of 38.7 degrees recorded in 2019. Britain experienced its first-ever Red Extreme Heat Warning, which states that temperatures may reach over 40 degrees and there is a threat of serious illness or even death among healthy people.
3. The heatwave of 1976 was rare, 2022's is not.
The heatwave of 1976 was incredibly rare for that time period, with the average temperature of July 1976 being 18 degrees but in the 2010’s the average temperature recorded in July was more than 20 degrees and the top ten warmest years ever for the UK have been since 2002. Only a few places in the UK experienced significant rainfall during the 1976 heatwave. There were future heat waves in ‘95, ‘97, ‘03, ‘06, and 22, with the 1976 heatwave being the first and locked into the British psyche as a phenomenon. Albeit the 76 heatwave was also a period where there were over two months of no rainfall and water needed to be rationed, it was still extremely rare for that decade rather than being a common occurrence as we see heat waves now.
4. It is not just a British issue this time around, it's global.
Alongside Britain, the rest of Europe has also experienced a heatwave with the extreme heat causing an estimated 1,977 wildfires across the entire continent. The average global temperature is rising steadily and the heat map below from the BBC clearly shows how much warmer the global climate has become in the last 70 years. The average temperature of the world is rapidly rising and this is the issue that the heatwave brings to light, yes there have been plenty of heatwaves before but their increasing frequency and high intensity demonstrates how much climate change is affecting our planet, much more than it was in 1976. The impact of these record temperatures on the environment is profound, leading to more frequent and severe heatwaves, wildfires, and other extreme weather events.
5. 1976 saw a 20% increase in excess deaths - 2022 Is Estimated to be Higher
In 1976 excess deaths across the two-month period as a whole stood at 700 according to ONS data, and the 1976 heatwave is said to have been the cause of 20% ‘excess deaths’. The hottest day during the 1976 heatwave saw temperatures peak at 35.9°C. In 2003, the heat wave that struck Europe, hitting France especially hard, had a death toll of over 70,000 people which was a 59% ‘excess death’, which is nearly a 40% increase in ‘excess deaths’ since 1976. The true impact of the 2022 heatwave may not be fully understood for a couple more weeks but a professor at UCL, Ilan Kleman stated that “once temperatures reach over 37 degrees the death toll begins to increase” and that “The heatwave was extremely serious, there was the potential for very high death rates”. Although it is currently unclear what the percentage increase in death rates was over the last few weeks, it can be assumed that once the data has been collected the increase in deaths will be higher than that of the 1976 heatwave demonstrating that the heatwaves severity have increased and need to be taken significantly more seriously
6. Environmental Consequences of Heatwaves
Heatwaves, such as the infamous 1976 heatwave, bring about severe environmental consequences that extend far beyond just high temperatures. The extreme heat and drought conditions can lead to mortality displacement, significantly affecting wildlife and vegetation. In response to the severe drought, the British government had to implement water rationing measures, and the Drought Act was passed in Parliament, with Denis Howell appointed as the Minister for Drought. Climate scientists, including Prof Nigel Arnell, have pointed out that the rise in global temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, are largely due to greenhouse gases trapping the sun’s heat. This has led to a gradual warming of the UK since the 19th century, with an average temperature increase of 0.9C over the past three decades. The environmental impact of heatwaves underscores the urgent need to address climate change and mitigate its effects.
It is much clearer that the 2022 heatwave is a result of human activity rather than the natural weather changes that were seen in the 70's.
Scientists are not 100% sure of the 1976 heatwave but they do believe it may have been a result of a change in the jet stream that dictates our weather. But this current heatwave is part of a bigger shift in our climate, it is one of the clearest signs of human influence on our environment. The Met Office says that this heatwave has been made ten times more likely because of climate change. It is the greenhouse gasses that we release that are trapping in the sun's heat and warming the surface of the earth that led to the worrying situation we are now in.
In conclusion, the 1976 heatwave was a significant event in UK history, with temperatures soaring to 35.6°C and lasting for 15 days. The heatwave had a profound impact on the country, leading to widespread drought, excess deaths, and the implementation of the Drought Act. The heatwave of 1976 remains a reference point for unusually hot summers in the UK and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing climate change to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events. As the global climate continues to warm, it is essential to take action to reduce our carbon footprint and prevent the worst impacts of climate change. The increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves like the one in 2022 highlight the urgent need for collective action to combat climate change and protect our planet for future generations
There is one single solution to this problem; change.
We cannot continue to live the way we do, we have to change our carbon habits, it has to be a daily effort to reduce, avoid and offset carbon or extreme weather like this UK heatwave will become the norm.
