Saudi temperatures risk topping 80 Celsius - will melt plastic

Surface temperatures in Saudi Arabia could top 70 degrees Celcius, or occasionally 80 degrees if predictions by a government meteorologist prove accurate.

Faisal Al-Zawad, head of forecasting at the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, Ministry of Defence and Aviation in the Eastern Province, has concluded that annual temperatures will rise by 4.2 degrees by the end of the century, according to the Saudi Gazette.

His research, based on historical analysis of records dating back to 1961, is based on average temperatures, but would mean that summer temperatures could be high enough to melt plastic such as the uPVC used in pipes, plumbing and window frames, according to Arabian Business calculations.

Al Zawad said that rising temperatures would affect society and the economy.

“The rise in temperature as a result of increasing emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will have significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s national economy, rise in energy demand, social lifestyle of the population and production and consumption,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

“Global warming can have big effects on agriculture, energy consumptions and various other aspects of daily life."

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