The images of the past few days have been unambiguous: people seeking relief from the heat in Parisian fountains and under sprinkler systems, water cannon vehicles driving through avenues spraying trees, parched soils, and meadows displaying every shade between green and yellowish brown. The heatwave had a firm grip on central and western Europe, with temperatures between 38 and 42 degrees Celsius and above being far from unusual. And although storms are forecast for the weekend, the trend towards one of the five hottest summers on record looks set to continue.

Cities in general are particularly affected by global warming. GeoSphere Austria refers to a heat hotspot in Vienna's city centre. A study recently published in the academic journal Plos One suggests that Vienna is likely to be especially hard hit by further climate change. In the hottest months, a temperature rise of plus 7.6 degrees could be expected. London, where weather reports recorded 22 degrees Celsius on Friday, could become as warm as Barcelona (currently 30 degrees).

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