"When scientists applied a new model of human survivability that takes into account the body's ability to function and stay cool depending on age, they found all six events had seen non-survivable periods for older people who could not find shade."
"Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, the study's lead author, said the results were shocking. My first thought was 'oh shit.' I really didn't expect to see that, especially when you zoom in to individual cities."
"Climate studies have found that heatwaves are lasting longer and delivering higher temperatures around the world. We have often defined heatwaves by temperature alone and partly that has been because of the data that we had."
Research indicates that extreme heatwaves have resulted in non-survivable conditions for older individuals, with thousands of deaths recorded. A new model assessing temperature, humidity, and the body's cooling ability reveals that six significant heatwaves from 2003 to 2024 posed deadly risks. Notably, the wet bulb temperature limit of 35C was not reached during these events, yet they still proved fatal. The findings suggest that as climate change progresses, the risks associated with heatwaves will increase significantly, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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