Harsher heat waves expected in the next 30 years

A new study warns that climate change will bring more frequent and harsher heat waves in the next 30 years.

09:00 17 August 2013

A recent study suggests that climate change will trigger more frequent and harsher heat waves in the next 30 years. It added that as the global temperature continues to climb rapidly, Britain will experience extreme heat waves 20per cent of the time during summer months by 2040.

The report concludes that unless great efforts are exerted to dramatically reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emission, extreme climate change and harsh heat waves will become the new normal in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.

Dim Coumou, the lead author of the study, predicts that by the end of the century France and Spain will spend 80per cent of summer months experiencing extreme temperature. United Kingdom, on the other hand will experience the same 50-60per cent of the time. 

He told The Independent: “The tropics, the Mediterranean and the Middle East will be worst affected, but in the UK you will definitely see a very strong increase in heat extremes as well.”

He said: “Heat extremes can be very damaging to society and ecosystems, often causing heat related deaths, forest fires or losses to agricultural production. So an increase in frequency is likely to pose serious challenges to society.”