Droughts, Wildfires, and Floods: The Cascading Impacts of Turbo-Charged Climate Change and Heatwaves

The record-high temperatures that have scorched parts of Europe, North America, and Asia this summer are part of a pattern of extreme heat events that are made more likely by human-induced global warming.

Heatwaves pose serious risks to human health, ecosystems, and infrastructure, and require urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Evidence of longer heatwaves

(Photo : Lucian/ via Unsplash)

Heatwaves are periods of abnormally high temperatures that persist for several days or weeks. They are measured by comparing the observed temperature with the normal or average temperature for a given location and time of year, as per The Guardian.

A heatwave is considered extreme when the temperature exceeds the 90th percentile of the normal distribution.

According to the data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heatwaves have become more frequent, intense and longer-lasting over the past six decades. The average duration of a heatwave has also increased by about 24 hours since 1960.

The record-high temperatures that have been observed this summer in various parts of the world are consistent with this trend.

In Asia, China and Japan also suffered from prolonged and severe heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F) in many areas.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global average temperature has risen by about 1.1°C since the pre-industrial era, and is expected to reach 1.5°C by 2040 under current emission scenarios.

This means that heatwaves that used to occur once in a century may now occur once in a decade, or even more frequently.

Also Read: Heatwaves in Europe 10 Times as Likely with Climate Change

Drivers of longer heatwaves

Heatwaves are influenced by various factors, such as atmospheric pressure systems, ocean currents, winds and humidity.

The main driver of longer heatwaves is the increase in global average temperature caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat in the atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space.

This creates a greenhouse effect that warms the planet. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased significantly since the industrial revolution, mainly due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture.

Climate change can also amplify the intensity and duration of heat waves by altering the circulation patterns of the atmosphere and the oceans.

Impacts of longer heatwaves

Longer heatwaves can have devastating impacts on human health, ecosystems, and infrastructure. Some of the impacts include increased mortality and morbidity, reduced crop yields and food security, Increased wildfires and air pollution, Increased energy demand and power outages, as per inkl.

Mitigation measures aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming, while adaptation measures aim to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to heatwaves.

Some of the solutions include implementing policies and regulations that promote low-carbon development; early warning systems and emergency plans that inform and protect people from heatwaves; improving urban planning and design that reduce urban heat islands and fire risks; promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry practices that enhance soil moisture retention, crop diversity, and fire prevention; investing in research and innovation that improve the understanding and prediction of heatwaves;

Climate change can also increase the sea surface temperature, which can provide more moisture and energy for heatwaves.