Global heatwave frequency and intensity are rising across nearly all regions
In short: A systematic study using the Berkeley Earth temperature dataset found that heatwaves are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity. Researchers observed that in almost all regions, the frequency of heatwaves is changing most rapidly and significantly, with cumulative heat showing significant increases almost everywhere since the 1950s.
The study analyzed regional and global heatwave trends using various metrics and the Berkeley Earth dataset. While the findings show accelerating trends in heatwave frequency and cumulative heat since the 1950s, the researchers noted that high variability means regional trends should be assessed over multiple decades to be reliable.
Why it matters: The increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves have significant implications for both human and biophysical systems.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Kirkpatrick and Lewis (2020). Increasing trends in regional heatwaves. Nature Communications. · cc-by
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