Nowhere to Hide: Understanding Earth's Escalating Heat Waves

 by Dean Muller, President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice 

Many parts of the world are experiencing incredibly hot and dangerous heat waves. The reasons for these extreme events aren't complex. Our planet is getting warmer, and it is directly linked to human activities.

The past decade has seen 10 of the hottest years ever recorded on Earth. Last month was the second hottest May on record. These aren't just isolated events but a clear and concerning trend.

The Science Behind the Heat

A recent study confirmed that the amount of carbon dioxide humans have already released into the atmosphere will likely cause the world to be 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer by 2028 compared to pre-industrial times. While this might sound like a slight increase, scientists agree it means more brutal and dangerous heat waves across the globe.

What's particularly notable is how predictable this warming is. Decades of research have shown that the Earth's climate is reacting exactly as expected to the increasing greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. It's warming because of human influence and will only speed up if we don't act. This is no longer a matter of debate; it's a proven fact.

How Climate Change Intensifies Heat Waves

Typically, heat waves happen when a high-pressure system stays over a region for an extended period, causing the air to sink and heat up. With less cloud cover, more sunlight also reaches and warms the ground. The definition of a heat wave can vary by location, as what's considered hot in one place might be normal in another.

It's generally easier to link heat waves to climate change than other weather events like hurricanes. This is because a strong and well-understood connection exists between a warming atmosphere and hotter conditions.

The Global Impact of Rising Temperatures

The world is already experiencing heat waves that would have been far less likely or impossible without human-caused climate change. These heat waves will intensify as humans continue to burn fossil fuels and clear forests, which reduces the Earth's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the hotter it gets. With ongoing greenhouse gas emissions, the world will continue to warm, and heat waves will continue to be hotter everywhere.