Saudi weather authority dismisses 'thermal combustion' claims, says El Niño impact limited
Saudi meteorology spokesman Hussein Al-Qahtani refuted claims about 'thermal combustion,' stressing the term lacks scientific basis and El Niño's effect is limited.
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The spokesperson for the National Center for Meteorology, Hussein Al-Qahtani, has denied the validity of circulating claims regarding so-called 'thermal combustion,' stressing that this term is not supported by any recognized scientific reports. He emphasized that the monitoring of climate phenomena should rely on reports from specialized scientific bodies.
Speaking on the 'MBC in a Week' program, Al-Qahtani explained that the discussion around 'thermal combustion' contradicts scientific reports issued by international organizations and the Regional Center for Climate Change. He noted that such information is driven more by media sensationalism than scientific evidence.
He added that reports issued by the Regional Center for Climate Change are based on scientific methodology to monitor the impact of climate phenomena on the Arabian Peninsula and Saudi Arabia. These reports provide initial indicators that inform the weather forecasts released by the National Center for Meteorology.
Al-Qahtani pointed out that the Regional Center for Climate Change continuously monitors major global climate phenomena, notably El Niño, and confirmed that scientific studies indicate its impact on Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula is indirect.
He explained that El Niño results from rising ocean temperatures, leading to climate disturbances such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts in directly affected regions, while its effect on Saudi Arabia remains limited.
He added that the center has issued supplementary reports containing indicators on temperatures, rainfall chances, and drought probabilities in several regions of the Kingdom. These findings were communicated early to relevant authorities to enable necessary measures.
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Al-Qahtani confirmed that El Niño typically recurs every two to seven years, with its impact varying according to ocean temperature increases. He noted that some countries have experienced direct effects this year, including heatwaves and drought.
He stressed that not all weather phenomena or global temperature rises, especially during summer, can be attributed to El Niño.
Al-Qahtani also clarified that temperatures recorded in Saudi Arabia so far remain within normal ranges and have not reached exceptional levels compared to previous years. He expects temperatures to rise by about one to two degrees above average during August.