REUTERSGeneva: Periods of extreme heat are becoming more frequent, more intense and lasting longer as global climate change continues to warm the planet, the United Nations' weather agency said on Tuesday, as Europe endures another summer of drought, wildfires and record-breaking temperatures. Parts of Europe are currently experiencing their fifth heatwave of the season, prompting renewed warnings from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) about the growing impact of rising global temperatures. High-pressure systems and climate changeKennedy said the current heat pattern across Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, reflects the combined effect of persistent high-pressure systems and a warmer climate. Warm seas and dry soils worsening the heatKennedy said exceptionally warm seas and increasingly dry soils are intensifying heat across Europe. "Lots of these factors are coming together to give us the record heat that we're seeing this year," Kennedy said.