We are facing record-breaking heatwaves that last for weeks. According to a new study, the chances of heatwaves occurring between now and 2050 are up to seven times higher than the previous few decades if greenhouse gas emissions remain high. These record-breaking, prolonged heatwaves are predicted to be three to 21 times more likely in 2051-2080 than they were in previous decades.The new study was published in Nature Climate Change today. It used climate models to reach their conclusions. There is already ample evidence to support this study, as well as others linking climate change with more severe and frequent heatwaves. Another heat dome is currently engulfing large parts of the US this week. This comes after hundreds of temperature records have been broken across the US by extreme heat events this year.Through Tuesday, high pressure will cause excessive heat in parts of the Northwest. The high temperatures could lead to records being broken or tied in certain places, with some areas reaching 15-25 degrees above the average. pic.twitter.com/9XlhIsB9fR NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) July 26, 2021There is another dimension to the record-breaking pace of global warming that this study highlights. Research has shown that future heatwaves will be more insufferable if the rate of warming increases. It's not only how hotter the world gets in the end compared to preindustrial times. This is what is scary. The heatwaves that we experience are affected by how quickly the planet heats.Last month saw the deadly effects of a heatwave in the Pacific Northwest. We witnessed the whiplash that can result from a cooler area suddenly boiling over. Seattle, Washington reached a record breaking 108 degrees Fahrenheit in June 28th. This was significantly higher than the previous record of 103 degrees. While the Western US was feeling the heat, the Pacific Northwest experienced a significant increase in emergency room visits. This region was not built to withstand the heat like a desert community. Washington's roads buckled under extreme conditions.The authors of the study might be helpful to city planners.Although the June 28th temperature record is not the norm, city planners may want to follow the advice of the new study's authors and be prepared for similar events in the future. In an email to Axios, Erich Fischer, the lead author of the study stated that it is important to be prepared for record heat events that will shatter all previous records by large margins in the future.
