records reveal the last 30 years were the hottest on record New ‘climate normals’ show that average temperatures increased notably just since 1990 () Readability: 7.7Īrctic: A region that falls within the Arctic Circle. New UN climate report finds no time for denial or delay It links extreme weather around the globe to Earth’s changing climate () Readability: 8.0 In blazing heat, some plants open leaf pores - and risk death Trying to keep cool in warming climates puts some plants at greater risk of drying out () Readability: 6.0 A network of climate scientists now reports finding that global warming made the event much more likely. Want to know more? We’ve got some stories to get you started:Ĭlimate change made 2019 European heat wave worse An intense heat spell gripped much of Europe in June. This can make it harder for people to cool off by sweating. This means there is more moisture in the air. Climate change is also making the air more humid. Experts say climate change is responsible for this rise in the number of heat events. This may leave people without food and cause prices to rise.Īcross the globe, heat waves appear to be happening more frequently and lasting longer. Farms may experience crop failure, or livestock may die. This can cause water shortages, power outages and blackouts. People may also use more water, electricity and transportation to try to stay cool. Older adults, young children and those who are sick are more at risk during heat waves. If untreated, this can cause damage to the body’s organs and even death. This can lead to heat-related illnesses (such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke). Extreme heat can cause a person’s body temperature to rise faster than it can cool off. Sweating is the body’s way of cooling off. More than 160,000 people died from extreme heat worldwide between 19. These events kill more people in the United States than all other extreme weather events - such as tornados, blizzards and hurricanes. Without cloud cover or storms, the trapped air can heat up to dangerous temperatures. Clouds help cool Earth’s surface by reflecting the sun’s rays and producing rain. If this warm, descending flow of air keeps air near the ground from rising, it becomes a “heat dome.” This cap of hot dry air warms the surface and stops clouds from forming. In a high pressure system, cool air sinks toward the ground. Sometimes, large curves in the jet stream can lead to a high pressure system remaining over an area for longer than usual. The jet stream forms where cold, polar air meets warm air from the tropics. See all the entries from our Let’s Learn About seriesĪ heat wave usually occurs when a strong band of winds known as a jet stream moves closer to the poles. Those same temperatures in Miami, Fla., though, would be considered normal. Three days of 27° Celsius (80° Fahrenheit) weather in Anchorage, Alaska, during July would be considered a heat wave. To be considered a heat wave, the temperature needs to be higher than the historical average for the affected area. And when unusually hot weather that lasts for two or more days, that’s a heat wave or heat event. You probably expect summer days to be hot.
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