Human-induced global warming has had a significant impact on the temperature experienced by the majority of people on Earth, particularly during the month of July. A flash study conducted by Climate Central, a respected science nonprofit, revealed that over 2 billion people, or 81% of the world’s population, felt the effects of climate change-induced warmth on a daily basis. The study analyzed data from 4,711 cities and found evidence of climate change in 4,019 of them. July, widely regarded as the hottest month on record, saw a threefold increase in the likelihood of hotter temperatures in these cities due to the burning of fossil fuels.
The report highlighted that the impact of climate change was most significant in Florida, where over 244 million people experienced heightened heat during July. Additionally, approximately 2 billion people residing primarily in tropical regions experienced consistently hotter temperatures throughout the entire month. Notable cities affected by this phenomenon include Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
July 10 emerged as the day with the most widespread climate change effect, with 3.5 billion people experiencing extreme heat characteristic of global warming. This is distinct from the actual hottest day globally, which occurred on July 7 according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer. While the study has not undergone peer review, it is based on established climate fingerprinting techniques endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences. Independent climate scientists have expressed credibility in the findings presented.
Climate Central developed the Climate Shift Index, a tool used to assess the real-time impact of climate change on global temperatures. By comparing actual temperatures to a simulated world with no climate change-induced warming, scientists can determine the likelihood of natural heat. The tool has provided valuable insights, with this study reinforcing the notion that individual heatwaves can be connected to global warming.
In the United States, 22 cities experienced at least 20 days where climate change tripled the probability of extreme heat, including prominent urban centers like Miami, Houston, Phoenix, Tampa, Las Vegas, and Austin. Cape Coral, Florida, was most affected by climate change in July, witnessing a 4.6 times increase in the likelihood of hotter temperatures throughout the month. The study also revealed a diminishing climate effect as one moved farther north in the country, with states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, northern California, upstate New York, and parts of Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin showing no significant impact.
While heatwaves in regions such as the U.S. Southwest, the Mediterranean, and China have received extensive analysis to identify the influence of climate change, the study emphasized the need to pay attention to other affected areas like the Caribbean and the Middle East. Despite their significant climate change signals, these regions have not received the same level of attention. This study differs from others as it examines the global impact of climate change.
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