#extreme heat

CLIMATE CHANGE:  Extreme Heat by 2070

This map depicts the areas of the world predicted to suffer from extreme heat from global warming by 2070. Humankind has lived and thrived in a moderate climate niche with a yearly average of 52 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, but with carbon emissions continuing at projected rates, the geographical position of this climate niche will shift in the next 50 years. According to a study just released, some 3 billion people will live in areas of extreme heat by 2070 if trends continue unchecked. These brutally hot conditions currently only occur in 0.8% of the earth’s surface in the hottest parts of the Sahara Desert, but could expand to over 19% of earth’s landmass by 2070. This trend could lead to extreme climatological events and mass migrations.

Source:  Chi Xu, Timothy A. Kohler, Timothy M. Lenton, and Marten, “Future of the human climate niche,” PNAS, May 4, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910114117

Reporting on the recent heat wave that affected more than 150 million Americans, meteorologist and CBS weather contributor Jeff Berardelli noted the link between climate change and extreme heat waves on the July 18 episode of CBS This Morning. That’s an all-too-rare occurrence on broadcast TV news programs: out of 127 segments they aired last year during a heat wave, only one, on CBS This Morning, mentioned climate change. 

It is extremely important that networks connect climate change to extreme heat and extreme weather in general. The science linking climate change and extreme heat is very strong, and climate change has increased the frequency, size, and duration of extreme heat events.