近日，歐洲多地被“熱穹頂”籠罩，熾熱高溫從地中海一路延伸至英國、德國等國家。法國氣象局指出，截至6月30日，法國96個行政區中已有84個發布橙色高溫預警，另有16個進入紅色警戒。

酷熱天氣甚至影響到巴黎地標——埃菲爾鐵塔，其鋼結構因日照受熱膨脹，導致塔體可能短暫向受光一側偏斜。據BBC和NBC新聞等媒體報道，專家解釋，鐵塔受光一側鋼材因高溫膨脹，而背光側相對收縮，造成塔體輕微傾斜。

Extreme temperatures soared across Europe as several countries issued heat alerts. In Paris, officials said the Eiffel Tower's top level would remain closed to visitors because of the current heat wave. According to its website, rising temperatures cause the puddled iron of the tower to expand in size and tilt slightly, but without causing any impact to its structural integrity.

圖源：埃菲爾鐵塔官方網站

夏季熱脹可令塔體位移約20公分，冬季冷縮則可縮回10公分。不過，這種熱脹冷縮現象會隨著晝夜溫差自行恢復，不會造成結構性損害。為應對高溫，法國當局關閉埃菲爾鐵塔頂層兩天，并設立冷水補給站，提醒游客及時補水。

法國有超過1350所學校全部或部分停課，另有超過5000戶家庭出現停電。此外，法國交通部門也要求部分列車減速或暫停，以防鐵軌受熱彎曲。

Temperatures in Paris are expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius this week, with parts of southern France soaring to 40 degrees. The French government has issued high-level heat wave alerts across 84 areas.

這波熱浪的成因主要是強烈的“熱穹頂”籠罩地中海，加上全球氣候變暖，使高溫紀錄發生頻率大增。除了法國，西班牙巴塞羅那6月平均氣溫達26°C，創下110多年來新高，伊比利亞半島部分地區氣溫甚至飆升至43°C，葡萄牙埃武拉6月曾出現46.6°C高溫。

高溫還影響歐洲多地鐵路運輸，部分列車因鐵軌膨脹被迫降速或停運。法國、比利時、英國等地也面臨強風和火災風險，有些地區已啟動緊急響應機制。

The blistering temperatures were caused by a heat dome, a high-pressure system that stalled over western Europe, trapping hot air from northern Africa over the region, akin to a lid on a pot of boiling water. Heat domes can linger for days or weeks, driving up heat and humidity for extended periods of time.

圖源：世界氣象組織

極端高溫還帶來健康威脅，意大利有建筑工人在酷熱下猝死工地，英國和德國的長照機構也呼吁加強防暑措施，保護長者與其他易感人群。目前，歐洲多國已啟動應對機制，包括開放避暑中心、限制午后戶外作業，并呼吁民眾注意室內降溫與補充水分。

氣候專家警告，歐洲是全球暖化速度最快的大洲之一，極端天氣事件將日趨頻繁，各國亟需強化基礎設施與公共衛生系統，以應對未來挑戰。

Studies have shown that climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves around the world. As the world continues to warm, these extremes are expected to compound, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, which said the region is heating up at twice the global average speed.

編輯：左卓

實習生：韓沐辰

來源：環球時報 北京晚報 NBCNews

China Daily精讀計劃

每天20分鐘，英語全面提升！