Page 11 - aruba-today-20220915

a11
local Thursday 15 sepTember 2022

What is behind the extreme heat these days on Aruba?

The Foundation for Catho- explained to our reporter peak. According to Van phone and call the weath- indeed, we did warn about
lic Schools in Aruba, SKOA, that the company is deal- Der Linden, their capac- er department. “I follow this. But it’s not abnormal.”
showed worry for the ex- ing with interruptions in their ity is 256 megawatt which the weather department of If the extreme heat the last
treme heat recently, by grid, and in this, the recent means there is enough Curaçao, which previously few days is because of cli-
implementing a variety of heat plays a big role. capacity – but here and had already warned about mate change, this cannot
measures: no gym lessons Last week, use of electric- there, interruptions can oc- the extreme heat. I wanted be said directly. “No, not
outdoors, allowing all stu- ity on the island was higher cur. These are things that to know how this was going really, because the climate
dents to drink enough liq- than ever before. The aver- can happen anywhere on to be for Aruba.” has been changing for 50
uid, and even reducing the age peak electricity-gener- the island, thus do not af- years already.” Barkmeyer
duration of the school day. ating company WEB is 135 fect one area more than Aruban media was already explained that these days it
megawatt, but last week it the other. on it. “Incomprehensible feels so hot because of the
The 46 schools under the was 150 megawatt. “This is that the weather warnings strength of the sun’s rays:
foundation receive a let- indeed because of an in- But with temperatures feel- between these weather in- 12 on the UV index. This is
ter to implement these and crease in energy consump- ing like 36 to 40 degrees stitutes are different while so high, that the advice for
other measures, director tion because of the heat”, Celsius at noon, it’s almost the islands are so close to this is to remain indoors.
Anuesca Baly told news site spokesperson Asja Dongen impossible to find refuge each other”, according to
Caribisch Netwerk. commented. “Many peo- anywhere other than in- a local news site. This gen- Something that is also com-
ple are saying that this will doors with air condition- erated negative reactions mon during this time is the
The cold wind that nor- be good for us because it ing. Air conditioning is also regarding the skills of mete- lack of wind, because
mally blows from the sea will generate more income, turned on during the whole orologist David Barkmeyer, weather disturbances in
is not coming these days. but this is not the case.” night in most Aruban bed- director of Aruba’s weath- the area suck the wind
Residents in the area near It costs more for the com- rooms – even when the sun er department. Noticeable away. Last week, hurricane
the dump at Parkietenbos pany to let the motors pro- goes down around 7:30pm, were the attacks and com- Earl was to blame.
have also been complain- duce more energy, which the temperature remains at ments regarding his Cura-
ing that the bad smells means additional invest- around 30 degrees Celsius. çaoan background. This The cold wind that comes
stays in the area. Some of ment and more fuel, which happened also last June, from the sea, which makes
these residents flee their is not a sustainable solution. Criticism on weather de- when the forecast for storm our desert island bearable,
homes because they can- “For this reason, always, partment Bonnie was still accept- now feels more like a hair-
not tolerate the situation, even during hot days, be “For three years that I’ve able. dryer. “The wind is hot be-
according to an article by mindful of energy con- been working as director, cause it’s coming from the
journalist Sharina Henriquez sumption”, Dongen high- each year a letter like that “Everything is on our web- southwest, from the South
on Caribisch Netwerk. lighted. is sent out, with precaution- site, thus that’s where American continent.” Bark-
Even neighborhoods that ary measures. Particularly people need to go”, Bark- meyer explains what a lot
normally don’t suffer from It was also noted that for the five schools that meyer said. “This is very nor- of residents do now know:
this problem are seeing these days, around 9pm, do not have air condition- mal. The hottest time of the despite the fact that the
residents complaining that the peak is high because ing”, Baly told Caribisch year, and it can last until ABC islands are surrounded
they can smell Parkieten- everyone goes home and Netwerk. “September is al- the beginning of October.” by the sea, the weather is
bos. turn on their air condition- ways this hot.” determined by the main-
ing. There are also more But why are people widely land. “If we were two to
Meanwhile, Jonathan electric vehicles, thus the But this hot? Baly didn’t complaining right now? He three degrees more north
van der Linden, Mainte- demand is high. During the see any warnings regard- doesn’t have an explana- west, it would be fresher.
nance Specialist at elec- last week, Elmar experi- ing the heat, which for her tion. “People are also call- Then we would have a truly
tricity company NV Elmar, enced a never-before seen was a reason to pick up the ing us a lot. It’s very hot, sea weather.”