Climate change stoked US, Mexico heatwave
World
Human-induced climate change made recent extreme heat in the US southwest, Mexico and Central America around 35 times more likely, scientists say.
The World Weather Attribution (WWA) group studied excess heat between May and early June, when the US heatwave was concentrated in southwest states including California, Nevada and Arizona.
Extreme temperatures in Mexico also claimed lives during the period.
The scientists said that such a heatwave was now four times more likely than it was in 2000, driven by planet-warming emissions.
Experts say many extreme weather events including heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.
“The results of our study should be taken as another warning that our climate is heating to dangerous levels," said Izidine Pinto, Researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
“As long as humans fill the atmosphere with fossil fuel emissions, the heat will only get worse – vulnerable people will continue to die and the cost of living will continue to increase,” he added.
The scientists underlined the danger from high night-time temperatures - a severe threat to health as the body does not have time to rest and recover.
World Weather Attribution (WWA) is an international effort to analyse and communicate the possible influence of climate change on extreme weather events, such as storms, extreme rainfall, heatwaves, cold spells, and droughts.
Extreme temperatures in Mexico also claimed lives during the period.
The scientists said that such a heatwave was now four times more likely than it was in 2000, driven by planet-warming emissions.
Experts say many extreme weather events including heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.
“The results of our study should be taken as another warning that our climate is heating to dangerous levels," said Izidine Pinto, Researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
“As long as humans fill the atmosphere with fossil fuel emissions, the heat will only get worse – vulnerable people will continue to die and the cost of living will continue to increase,” he added.
The scientists underlined the danger from high night-time temperatures - a severe threat to health as the body does not have time to rest and recover.
World Weather Attribution (WWA) is an international effort to analyse and communicate the possible influence of climate change on extreme weather events, such as storms, extreme rainfall, heatwaves, cold spells, and droughts.
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