A new study has found that summer heatwaves could be 4 to 8 times more intense by the end of the century. Unless greenhouse gas emissions are lowered significantly, at least 3 quarters of summer days will experience extreme heat.
As we have all heard by now, climate change is making our planet warmer as a direct result of our emissions. These gases trap heat instead of letting it escape, which causes the temperature to rise.
Unfortunately, the rate at which the temperature is expected to rise, given our current emission levels, will make it difficult for even humans to adapt.
No Escape At Night
Typically when it is a very hot day, you can expect relief from the heat at night, but that will not be the case in the future. Instead, nighttime heat will be just as bad.
This will be extremely problematic for vulnerable populations of humans, typically in underdeveloped nations. This will dramatically increase the health risk of humans that are exposed to constant heat.
It’s Already Getting Warmer
We do not need to wait for the future to see that our planet is getting warmer. Heck, we don’t even need to wait for summer.
This January was the hottest one in history topping the previous record set in 2016. Our planet is simply getting warmer as a direct result of climate change. By the end of the century, humanity may not be able to adapt.
It may be hard to imagine, but heatwaves are the deadliest extreme weather according to the National Weather Services. It kills more people than tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.
This is because exposure to heat for extended periods of time can significantly increase the chance of cardiovascular or respiratory deaths. And let’s not forget that water will become more scarce by the end of the century. This will make dehydration a serious threat.
Seeing summer heatwaves get 4 to 8 times stronger is something we need to avoid.
