If not for climate change, such a heat wave is "practically impossible"

In the past few days, heat waves have been rolling in western North America, with the highest temperature reaching almost 50 degrees Celsius. The results of a new study show that in history, such extreme high temperatures may only occur once in a thousand years. (Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Oxford University climate expert Friederike Otto said when introducing the latest research results: "We have seen an unprecedented situation. The original high temperature record has been broken by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, which is extremely abnormal. There is absolutely no doubt that climate change plays a key role here.” She pointed out that the warming of the planet caused by greenhouse gases has increased the likelihood of a heat wave in the United States by at least 150 times.

Edmonton, Canada, people try to cool down  
Heat waves are more frequent

In this study by the World Climate Attribution (WWA) research group, scientists compared historical climate observation data with contemporary weather. The extreme values ​​measured in Canada and the United States only occur once every millennium. According to the current level of carbon emissions, the earth will warm by two degrees Celsius within a few decades. Such heat waves may occur every 5 to 10 years. Once, the temperature will increase by about one degree.

In particular, Canada and the northwestern United States have been enveloped by unprecedented high temperatures in recent weeks. In the town of Lytton, about 260 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, it measured 49.6 degrees Celsius, the country’s highest record so far is 45 degrees. In just a few days, the town was almost completely destroyed by a fire caused by high temperatures. In British Columbia, more than 700 accidental deaths were reported within a week.

The European Union's Copernicus Earth Observation Program (Copernicus) pointed out that the temperature in June in Europe was 1.2 degrees higher than the average temperature from 1991 to 2020, which was the second highest temperature on record in June. Together with June 2018, Tied for the world's fourth highest temperature in June. The rest of the world was also overheated in June this year.

Source Translation :DW

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