A heat wave in the British Isles, drought conditions and extreme temperatures extended through a period lasting from the end of June until the end of August, reached its climax on this day in 1976 with a then record peak of 35,9°C (97°F) registered in Cheltenham in the Cotswolds. 
Leading towards water rationing, impacts on wildlife and agriculture, mortality displacement (excess deaths) and a twelve-percent increase in food prices caused by crop failure, that summer was considered a reference point for stiflingly hot weather in the UK and Ireland, with temperatures just shy of the height over most of England for fifteen consecutive days, a plague of ladybirds and unprecedented forest fires, since rivalled by 2003, 2006, 2014, 2022 and the present season, amplified by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions resulting in self-reenforcing feedback loops.
synchronoptica
one year ago: Jargeau and St Denis de l’Hรดtel (with synchronoptica)
two years ago: the ancient quarter of Maccagno
three years ago: superlative drone photography, Ziggy Stardust retires, assorted links to revisit plus composer Gyรถrgy Ligeti
four years ago: Dog Days of Summer, Double Indemnity (1944), more links to enjoy plus early AI image generation
five years ago: the Phaistos Disk (1908), US report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena plus the offspring of Hermes and Aphrodite
six years ago: EXP TV, Mount Rushmore plus US support for the mujahideen in Afghanistan
