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Editor's note
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A year of extreme weather kicked off with the so-called Beast from the East, which blew freezing Siberian winds across much of Europe and almost caused Britain to run out of gas. Even life below the
waves wasn’t safe, as thousands of starfish were left stranded in surreal and apocalyptic scenes along the Yorkshire coast. At the same time, the Arctic was enjoying freakishly warm temperatures – this was no coincidence.
But the UK soon warmed up, and within a couple months was enjoying one of its longest and most intense heatwaves ever. While some animals struggled in the heat, Britain’s reptiles were loving life.
Across Europe it got even hotter, with record breaking temperatures of nearly 50°C in Spain and Portugal.
Are 2018’s intense storms and heatwaves a sign of things to come? Worryingly, one climate scientist predicts that rogue Atlantic hurricanes will increasingly “get lost” and head northwards to the British Isles. And as for next summer, we’re not quite in “Hothouse Earth” just yet, but we did ask an expert what we can do to prepare for the next heatwave.
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Will de Freitas
Environment + Energy Editor
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Gareth Dorrian, Nottingham Trent University; Ian Whittaker, Nottingham Trent University
No matter how cold it is, you're lucky you don't live on Venus.
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Coleen Suckling, Bangor University
Extreme weather led to starfish mass strandings along beaches in Kent and East Yorkshire.
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Peter Inness, University of Reading
But it's too early to tell whether climate change is to blame.
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Paul Ashton, Edge Hill University
It's a bumper year for lizards, a mixed bag for butterflies and a dismal time for frogs and toads ...
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Richard Betts, University of Exeter
We're still not sure whether the "hothouse" is speculation – or destiny.
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Glenn McGregor, Durham University
And how long before such extreme heatwaves become the 'new norm' across the region?
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Len Shaffrey, University of Reading
A climate scientist explains what is going on with this heatwave.
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Candice Howarth, University of Surrey
Serious heat is a serious threat, and people must get better at talking about it.
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Featured events
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Exhibition Space, Emily Wilding Davison Building, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom — Royal Holloway
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University of East Anglia , Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom — University of East Anglia
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Picture Gallery, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom — Royal Holloway
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Picture Gallery, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom — Royal Holloway
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