A recent article, published by The Guardian, suggests that the August heatwave experienced in the UK may have been overhyped. So is this the case?
No, says Walker Institute supported PhD researcher Chloe Brimicombe. Brimicombe, whose PhD research focuses primarily on the effects of heatwaves in Africa, has recently published an article in The Conversation, in which she argues that recent heatwaves may have cost thousands of lives across the UK and western Europe and that the UK is “woefully unprepared” for a likely increase in their frequency, duration and intensity.
In her article, Brimicombe highlights the fact that, in 2003 when the UK last experienced the record temperatures of the August 2020 heatwave, over 2,000 people lost their lives. By 2050, as many as 5,000 people could die each year as a result of heat in the UK.
“It's important to point out, yes this heatwave impacted the UK with excess deaths and infrastructure challenges,” explained Brimicombe when asked for further comment, “but it was global in its scale. Many countries experienced high temperatures and heat stress conditions.”
The article highlights the limitations of current heatwave management policies in the UK and calls for a shift from reactive responses once a heatwave has been declared, to a policy of proactive adaptation and readiness for the longer, more frequent and more intense heatwaves that the future is likely to hold.
The full article is available on The Conversation and further information about Chloe Brimicombe’s research on heatwaves can be found HERE.
Post image: "The sun" by Lima Andruška is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
What would 4°C of global warming feel like? Find out in this @ConversationUK article by Walker Institute board memb… https://t.co/uDkdgE1Ntc
12:05 PM - 18 Jan 2021
Uganda elections 2021: Yoweri Museveni faces Bobi Wine in presidential contest https://t.co/uKuodZmj0l
10:36 AM - 14 Jan 2021
2020 has been a memorable year. Check out our new article on extreme weather: https://t.co/nveHifjD47 via… https://t.co/FsAroM2so9
17:39 PM - 30 Dec 2020
It's the LAST DAY to apply for the #ALiVE livelihoods data course! Move your research beyond abstract theory by lea… https://t.co/XPcT61UQn1
10:17 AM - 18 Dec 2020
A great blog post from @UniRdg_Met PhD student @jfallon1997 recapping the events of @MockCOP26 and highlighting som… https://t.co/JrPNyxUWp5
09:16 AM - 15 Dec 2020
Looking forward to taking part in in the Partnerships for Global Development event tomorrow, with research presenta… https://t.co/U49c1ou0m4
17:50 PM - 08 Dec 2020