The two hottest days in the world on record happened in July and 2024 is on track to be the warmest year alwaysHeat waves are more frequentlywere more acute and often occurred earlier than expected. When you take humidity into account, extreme weather already tests the limits of the human body. More than 1,300 people died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in June, when temperatures reached about 52 °C (126 °F), while heat-related deaths were also recorded this year in the USA, Thailand, India and Mexico. Parts of Europe – where high temperatures contributed – over 47,000 dead in 2023 – stay alert for more extreme conditions this summer.
What makes extreme heat so dangerous?
There are many reasons. In high temperatures, people are more likely to become dehydrated, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Heat can worsen respiratory problems, especially in places with increased pollution. Heat stress makes work more difficult and increases Likelihood of injuriesIt is difficult to say how many people die from heat every year; most remain uncountedIn Europe, there were probably 61,672 deaths due to heat in 2022, although this figure may underestimate the true total. after According to a study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, emerging countries suffer more than developed countries because there is little protection from the sun; most people work outdoors and few have effective cooling at home. Concrete and asphalt in urban areas can trap the heat and thus Night temperatures and contribute to heat stress. Women And Seniors Studies have shown that these population groups are most affected by extreme heat.
How is extreme heat measured?
Forecaster are increasingly using measures to measure heat stress and discomfort – such as HumidexHeat index or perceived temperature – to understand the health risks associated with high temperatures. Wet bulb is one of these measures. It takes into account the effects of humidity in the air, which makes it harder for the human body to cool itself by sweating. For example, 42°C with 40% humidity – think Phoenix, Arizona, in July – has a wet bulb temperature of about 30°C. A lower temperature of, say, 38°C, but with a higher humidity of 80%, gives a wet bulb of about 35°C. That is high enough to cause heat stroke even in healthy people with unlimited shade and water, and has already began to appear in subtropical coastal regions. In reality, shade and water are often limited, and heat can be deadly at much lower wet bulb temperatures. A study from 2020 A study published in the journal Science found that in the regions affected by the heatwaves in Europe in 2003 and Russia in 2010, which killed thousands of people, wet bulb temperatures did not exceed 28 degrees Celsius.
How is wet bulb temperature measured?
Originally, temperature was measured by wrapping a damp cloth around the bulb of a thermometer. Scientists recorded the reading after the moisture cooled by evaporation, just as the body cools by sweating. Today, wet-bulb temperatures are measured using electronic instruments at weather stations, with further studies of hotspots supported by satellite data from sources such as NASA and the International Space Station. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US also developed a Tool to predict a more advanced measure of heat stress: taking into account wet bulb temperature, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover.
Where is this a problem?
Traditionally, heat and humidity are highest in South Asia and subtropical climates. Some places in India have reached wet bulb temperatures of over 32°C; the UN predicts that India will be one of the first countries to exceed a wet bulb temperature of 35°C. Global warming and the impacts of Weather pattern El Niño This means there is a high probability that temperature and humidity records will be set this year in a number of regions along the equator, including Florida, Texas, much of Africa, India, Australia, and Central and South America. after at the University of California, Berkeley. Even in normally temperate regions, incredibly hot days are becoming increasingly common. Great Britain registered a record of 40.3 °C in July 2022, although the relatively low humidity kept the wet bulb temperature at around 25 °C. Barcelona experienced its hottest day ever End of July. In the USA, heat warnings were in effect for about half the population on August 1, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced. Japan, Greece, Hungary and Croatia were among the countries that experienced the warmest July since weather records began.
What are the economic impacts of heat?
In places with extreme heat, every aspect of life becomes more difficult and inequalities increase, especially in cities. But Even cooler places feel the effectstypically due to higher food and energy prices. Coffee prices rose this year to 45-year high as persistent heat and drought exacerbated supply shortages in Vietnam, the world’s largest Robusta producer. Drought in Russia prompted analysts to cut their wheat production forecasts this year, and supplies of crops such as rapeseed and chickpeas also remain vulnerable to the effects of the heat. Previous El Niños led to a Significant impact on global inflationwhich led to a 3.9 percentage point increase in non-energy commodity prices and a 3.5 percentage point increase in oil prices, according to modeling by Bloomberg Economics. Electricity consumption also rises during heat peaks, putting pressure on the grid and consumers’ wallets as prices soar. Natural gas prices rose this summer as consumers grappled with power outage risks; Egypt, normally an exporter of the fuel, resorted to LNG in the face of higher demand. The heat also exacerbates drynesswhich causes additional stress Hydropower And Nuclear energy Production. Extreme temperatures pose an increasing threat to outdoor activities and disrupt events, including Concertsreligious gatherings and sporting events.
What is the connection between extreme heat and climate change?
A new branch of science, Allocation of extreme eventslinks global warming to severe weather events with a certain degree of specificity. Heat waves are most directly linked to humanity’s greenhouse gas pollution. And heat, along with dryness and wind, fuels wildfires, which is why scientists are now convinced that climate change is exacerbating wildfires in the western U.S., Australia and elsewhere. (The U.S. wildfire season is two months longer than in the 1970s and 1980s.) Global warming is making tropical cyclones — also called hurricanes or typhoons — are more intense. Warmer water and more humid air — two consequences of global warming — provide additional fuel for such storms, such as the Record-breaking Hurricane Beryl in July, which raged in parts of the Caribbean and the USA. In India and Pakistan, extreme heat 30 times more likely due to the changing climate.