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Rare deadly heatwaves could strike every year even if global warming targets are met, warn scientists
(The Independent, 28 Mar 2017) Parts of India and Pakistan could experience the lethal temperatures of the astonishing 2015 heatwave – when the mercury rose to 60C – every year even if global warming is kept to 2C.
The heat in some parts of the world “could exceed the physiological tolerance of humans” by the end of this century, according to new research.
Even if global warming was restricted to 2 degrees Celsius, cities such as Karachi in Pakistan and Kolkata in India could experience deadly heatwaves like the one which killed more than 3,400 people in 2015 on an annual basis, scientists said in an academic paper.
‘Heat stress’ – the effect on the human body – rises at a faster rate than temperature, partly because warmer air can hold more moisture. Humid air absorbs more liquid at a slower rate so human’s main method of cooling down, sweating, is less effective.
The Independent, 28 Mar 2017: Rare deadly heatwaves could strike every year even if global warming targets are met, warn scientists
