A recent study revealed that last year’s extreme heat in the northern hemisphere, which caused wildfires in the Mediterranean, damaged roadways in Texas, and strained power grids in China, made it the warmest summer on record. According to Reuters, it was also the warmest in approximately 2,000 years.
One of two new studies highlights rising global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists officially declared the period from June to August last year as the warmest since records began in the 1940s.
Published in the journal Nature, the study suggests the 2023 heatwave may have surpassed temperatures over a much longer period. Researchers examined temperature data from tree rings at nine northern sites and meteorological records dating back to the mid-1800s.
The study found that summertime temperatures in areas between 30 and 90 degrees north latitude last year were 2.07 degrees Celsius (3.73 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than pre-industrial averages. Tree ring data indicated that the summer months of 2023 were, on average, 2.2 C (4 F) higher than the predicted average temperature for the years 1 to 1890.
Another study published in the journal PLOS Medicine found that more than 150,000 deaths in 43 countries were connected to heatwaves annually between 1990 and 2019. Heatwaves are already significantly impacting people’s health.
These deaths amount to nearly 1% of all deaths worldwide, comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 50% of additional deaths attributed to heatwaves occurred in densely populated Asia. Europe had the highest per capita toll, with an average of 655 heat-related deaths annually per 10 million inhabitants. Greece, Malta, and Italy had the highest excess fatalities in the region.
Severe heat can cause heat stroke, breathing difficulties, and heart problems.
