Scientists have conducted a rapid analysis indicating that climate change exacerbated the impact of a severe heat wave across Europe, potentially resulting in triple the number of expected deaths. This assessment marks a pioneering attempt to quantify the link between climate change and mortality during extreme weather.
Climate Change Accelerates Death Toll During European Heat Wave
Climate Change Accelerates Death Toll During European Heat Wave
A study from World Weather Attribution reveals that climate change may have significantly increased fatalities linked to a recent European heat wave, estimating it might have tripled the death count.
In the aftermath of a record-breaking heat wave, scientists from World Weather Attribution released an analysis highlighting how climate change significantly heightened the death toll associated with this event. The study found that the impact of climate change may have tripled the number of excess deaths from the extreme temperatures experienced in Europe.
Despite a lack of concrete death records from the heat wave, which persisted from June 23 to July 2, researchers utilized historical temperature data alongside established mortality patterns to create approximations of excess fatalities. Their investigations focused on 12 major European cities, particularly analyzing the five hottest days within the specified range.
Professor Friederike Otto, a member of the research team and climate science expert at Imperial College London, underscored the reality of these findings by stating, "These numbers represent real people who have lost their lives in the last days due to the extreme heat."
To estimate the death toll linked to climate change, the scientists calculated the intensity of the heat wave that would have occurred without the effects of global warming. Based on this information, they were able to derive the additional number of deaths attributed to climate conditions worsened by human-induced climate change.
Despite a lack of concrete death records from the heat wave, which persisted from June 23 to July 2, researchers utilized historical temperature data alongside established mortality patterns to create approximations of excess fatalities. Their investigations focused on 12 major European cities, particularly analyzing the five hottest days within the specified range.
Professor Friederike Otto, a member of the research team and climate science expert at Imperial College London, underscored the reality of these findings by stating, "These numbers represent real people who have lost their lives in the last days due to the extreme heat."
To estimate the death toll linked to climate change, the scientists calculated the intensity of the heat wave that would have occurred without the effects of global warming. Based on this information, they were able to derive the additional number of deaths attributed to climate conditions worsened by human-induced climate change.
