Qatar is one of the hottest countries on Earth, with record high temperatures reaching 50.4 degrees Celsius in July 2010. Summers in this country rarely see temperatures drop below 32 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures, increased humidity, and minimal cloud cover and rainfall during summer make life extremely uncomfortable for those living here.
The rising temperatures in Qatar are exacerbated by climate change. This has led the Qatari government to consider installing air conditioning… outdoors, to help residents survive the summer heat.
Currently, outdoor areas such as sidewalks, markets, and open-air shopping centers in the country have been equipped with gigantic air conditioning systems.
According to the Washington Post, these massive outdoor air conditioning systems operate similarly to indoor units, blowing cool air through a water-cooling system.
Statistics indicate that in Qatar, 60% of total electricity consumption is used for air conditioning, which is three times higher than in the United States and six times higher than in China and India.
However, the Independent expresses concerns that outdoor air conditioning could significantly increase carbon emissions and worsen global warming.
Qatar is set to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Due to the extreme temperatures, the event will take place in winter rather than summer, as with previous World Cups. Nevertheless, the temperatures at that time are still expected to be beyond what athletes and international fans can comfortably endure.
Qatar has even installed air conditioning in the stadiums hosting the World Cup.
To tackle this issue, Qatar has even installed air conditioning in the stadium, one of the eight venues that will host matches during the 2022 World Cup. A system of small vents installed at ankle height just below each seat in the stadium blows cool air to help cool the fans instead of cooling the entire upper part of the stadium.
Qatar’s commitment to this initiative is unmatched by any other country; they have also installed a massive air conditioning system at the Khalifa International Stadium. Surrounding this stadium are approximately 500 jet nozzles that blow out cool air, maintaining the temperature at around 23 degrees Celsius. The water is cooled at a facility about 1 km away and then transported to the stadium.
Thanks to this gigantic air conditioning system, the temperature inside the stadium remains cool and comfortable, even while outside temperatures soar to 46.7 degrees Celsius.
