United States: A new scientific study has reported that the heatwaves in Europe and the US in July 2023 are likely to have been caused by human-created climate change.
According to a rapid attribution analysis from the World Weather Attribution initiative, the “heat hell” searing parts of the United States and southern Europe would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change. Global warming resulting from the burning of fossil fuels has been identified as a significant factor that has increased the possibility of the heatwave affecting parts of China.
The WWA, a group of international scientists who assess the role of climate change in extreme weather events, has analysed the dangerous heat waves that swept the Northern Hemisphere in July 2023, destroying crops and livestock, triggering wildfires, exacerbating water stress, and killing people across three continents, as per the statement. The experts said that almost all societies are not prepared for this dreadful heat.
Climate scientists stated that the continuous release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by human activities over several decades is resulting in a significant increase in global temperatures. But all the extreme weather events can’t lead to a climate crisis because a lot of natural weather patterns can also be a reason.
The current analysis reveals that in today’s climate, the world is experiencing extreme heat waves with a frequency of approximately once every 15 years in the US and Mexico, once every 10 years in Southern Europe, and once every five years in China. These occurrences are directly linked to the escalating global temperature.
The study also considered the role of El Niño, a naturally occurring, powerful climate fluctuation that began in June 2023, as per the report. This phenomenon results in rising global temperatures as the warm waters ascend to the surface of the tropical Pacific Ocean, subsequently transferring heat into the atmosphere.
The experts warn that the current speed and timing of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, are exceptionally unusual and suggest taking immediate action against this human-created phenomenon.
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