Hot future shock: heat wave temperatures to soar
- added July 4, 2008
- 5 responses
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- JanforGore
- added this
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During the European heat wave of 2003 that killed tens of thousands, the temperature in parts of France hit 104 degrees. Nearly 15,000 people died in that country alone. During the Chicago heat wave of 1995, the mercury spiked at 106 and about 600 people died.
In a few decades, people will look back at those heat waves "and we will laugh," said Andreas Sterl, author of a new study. "We will find (those temperatures) lovely and cool."
Sterl's computer model shows that by the end of the century, high temperatures for once-in-a-generation heat waves will rise twice as fast as everyday average temperatures. Chicago, for example, would reach 115 degrees in such an event by 2100. Paris heat waves could near 109 with Lyon coming closer to 114.
Sterl, who is with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, projects temperatures for rare heat waves around the world in a study soon to be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
His numbers are blistering because of the drying-out effect of a warming world. Most global warming research focuses on average daily temperatures instead of these extremes, which cause greater damage.
His study projects a peak of 117 for Los Angeles and 110 for Atlanta by 2100; that's 5 degrees higher than the current records for those cities. Kansas City faces the prospect of a 116-degree heat wave, with its current all-time high at 109, according to the National Climactic Data Center.
In a few decades, people will look back at those heat waves "and we will laugh," said Andreas Sterl, author of a new study. "We will find (those temperatures) lovely and cool."
Sterl's computer model shows that by the end of the century, high temperatures for once-in-a-generation heat waves will rise twice as fast as everyday average temperatures. Chicago, for example, would reach 115 degrees in such an event by 2100. Paris heat waves could near 109 with Lyon coming closer to 114.
Sterl, who is with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, projects temperatures for rare heat waves around the world in a study soon to be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
His numbers are blistering because of the drying-out effect of a warming world. Most global warming research focuses on average daily temperatures instead of these extremes, which cause greater damage.
His study projects a peak of 117 for Los Angeles and 110 for Atlanta by 2100; that's 5 degrees higher than the current records for those cities. Kansas City faces the prospect of a 116-degree heat wave, with its current all-time high at 109, according to the National Climactic Data Center.
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- JanforGore
- 2 months ago
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Doesnt this scare anyone else? why aren't we declaring this and emergency? why dont we take a handle of the situation now before we really cant? im scared.
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I agree... people should be more concerned. Don't be scared though. Let this information empower you to demand people in government give this the attention it deserves.
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- JanforGore
- 2 months ago
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We must take pervasive action now before the end of next year. We are already approaching three degrees according to this documentary and based on current events around the world. The fact that this is still not the priority of our government is nothing short of criminal.
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- JanforGore
- 2 months ago
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I endured that 2003 heatwave, it was horrible - three solid months without relief, not a breath of air, not the slightest little breeze. The air was stale and full of ozone. I spent those three months lying down most of the time - the slightest movement or effort had me sweating like I had never sweated before. I drank three liters of water a day to survive. It was oppressive and horrendous, and since then, I dread the coming of summer in case we have to go through this again.
When I was young, I loved hot weather - the hotter, the better, and I thoroughly enjoyed the 115°F I experienced for several weeks in Pakistan in 1972. Nowadays, when the weather is cold and people complain, I tell them "enjoy the cold while we still have some". -
Doesn't anyone else notice the huge increase in both number and severity of the natural disasters around the world in the last 4 or 5 years? Coincidence? I don't think so.
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- huffamoose2k
- 2 months ago
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