Summer temperatures in Berlin can soar high.
Summer's finally upon us, but Berlin isn't exactly geared up for the heat, according to a new study. The city's land and water surfaces can soar to an average of 35.5 degrees between June and August, making it dangerously hot. This disquieting news comes from none other than the German Environmental Aid.
In comparison, Flensburg, a city in the far north, keeps a cooler 29.4 degrees. But sorry, Berlin, you're not winter's sweetheart anymore—Mannheim heats up to 38.4 degrees on its hottest days.
Hot as hell, literally
During the daytime, surfaces heat up faster than the air, says Environmental Aid. This soaring temperature is the best indicator of the perceived heat we experience. But here's a positive note: Berlin scores reasonably well in the nationwide comparison, with just 44.5% of its surfaces sealed and a decent amount of green spaces.
The hotspots of Berlin
The environments heated up quite differently across Berlin's districts. The districts of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Mitte, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Lichtenberg, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, and Neukölln are the sweatiest. These districts are not only exposed to the most heat, but they also boast higher-than-average sealed surfaces.
Mitte, in particular, reaches a whopping 37.61 degrees, with Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg around 37.22 degrees—which is a serious sauna! But it isn't all doom and gloom; Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Reinickendorf, and Treptow-Köpenick received a yellow card for their surface temperature, and a green card for the comparatively low amount of concrete and an abundance of green spaces and trees.
Brandenburg cities shine brighter
Potsdam, the capital of the federal state of Brandenburg, fares well in the heat check. With plenty of greenery and a relatively low number of sealed surfaces, Potsdam earned two green cards for its sealing and greenery. The land and water surfaces there heat up to around 34.1 degrees, on average, between June and August.
On the other hand, cities like Cottbus and Frankfurt an der Oder received yellow cards in the overall evaluation. People living in Cottbus are particularly affected by heat, with an average surface temperature of 35.2 degrees.
According to the study, over twelve million people in Germany are suffering from extreme heat at home. A total of 31 cities are issued a dangerous red card, 131 are given a yellow card, and only 28 are rewarded with a green card for their heat-resistant landscapes. The city of Hattingen in North Rhine-Westphalia proves that it can cool off, while Mannheim continues to swelter.
Science warns of climate-change impacts on Berlin's environment, with the city experiencing dangerously high temperatures, particularly in certain districts like Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Mitte, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Lichtenberg, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, and Neukölln. Surface temperatures can soar to 37.61 degrees in Mitte, making it hotter than many tropical saunas. However, some districts like Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Reinickendorf, and Treptow-Köpenick achieve lower surface temperatures and maintain a greener environment. This disparity highlights the importance of environmental-science when planning urban development to combat climate-change and ensure a livable city for all its residents.
