Climate / Other
Study finds future heatwaves likely to surpass recent extremes
A Freie Universität Berlin-led study in Nature Communications projects heatwaves that last longer, cover larger areas and are more severe.
Source-checked story: attributed primary-source and published reporting; no on-location reporting.
A new study led by Philipp Aglas-Leitner of Freie Universität Berlin, published in Nature Communications, finds that future heatwaves could last longer, impact larger areas and be much more severe than recent extremes, the university said Nov. 6.
The research team analyzed twenty-two exceptional heatwaves that occurred between 2010 and 2023 in regions including Europe, Australia, China, India and Pakistan, and compared them with climate model projections for 2020 to 2100, according to the university.
The majority of the model ensembles for many regions are projected to have at least one exceptional heatwave period per year between 2060 and 2099, the university said. In Europe, future heatwaves could stretch out over several months.
“Even ambitious emission reduction goals offer only limited protection,” Aglas-Leitner said.
The study is a joint project with coauthors including researchers from the Australian National University, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and ETH Zurich, the university said.
What we know / what we don't
What we know
- A Freie Universität Berlin-led study in Nature Communications projects heatwaves that last longer, cover larger areas and are more severe.
What we don't know
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