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Greenhouse Gases - Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events

Dr. Kostas Lagouvardos, Research Director

METEO Unit, National Observatory of Athens

Athens, February, 2026

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Climate change-Greenhouse effect

The Sun radiates energy towards Earth.

This energy heats Earth’s surface

Part of this energy is emitted back to space

Greenhouse gases, e.g. carbon dioxide or methane,

trap part of the energy before reaching the space

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Climate Change- Carbon dioxide - Global Concentrations (ppm)

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Temperature trends in Europe and the Balkans

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Europe-temperature trend (1991-2020)

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Balkans-temperature trend (1991-2020)

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Europe-temperature trend (1991-2020)

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Extreme weather events in Europe

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Annual economic losses (EU member States) 1980-2024

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Severe weather events in Greece 2000-2025

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Thank you!!!