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Meet the heat storm: 7 takeaways from our investigation that gave supersized heat waves a new name
Reuters says heat storms now average about 102 a year this decade, up from roughly five in the 1960s, as greenhouse gas emissions rise.
- Reuters investigation 'The Age of Heat Storms' introduces the concept of 'heat storms' to classify massive heat waves covering at least 1% of the planet, approximately 5.1 million km².
- Heat storms averaged about 102 a year this decade, a sharp rise from the 1960s when they occurred roughly five times annually, driven by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide.
- Reuters consulted two dozen climate researchers and analyzed hourly global temperatures since 1960 to identify 'heat cascades'—storms running consecutively or simultaneously for uninterrupted periods.
- A heat cascade began on July 6, 2008, and has not stopped; for more than 18 years straight, at least one heat storm has been roiling the planet.
- Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, told Reuters that naming such events is "a powerful way for people to understand that something is happening.
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Global heat patterns are rapidly changing. Sixty years ago, the average number of heat storms was five per year, but now it's 102. The largest heat storm lasted 367 days and affected 85% of the Earth's surface.
Reuters warns of the increase in “giant heat storms” in the world, which are now 20 times more frequent than decades ago.
Meet the heat storm: 7 takeaways from our investigation that gave supersized heat waves a new name
By Maurice Tamman Oct 20 (Reuters) - Heat waves have evolved from sporadic, isolated episodes to massive, cascading weather events that can blanket vast swaths of the planet for months or even years at a time. To continue calling such sprawling phenome...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left1Leaning Right4Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Right
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Right
57% Right
14%
C 29%
R 57%
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