As climate change warms the planet, heat waves are increasingly moving sluggishly and lasting longer, according to a study published on Friday.
Each decade between 1979 and 2020, the rate at which heat waves travel, pushed along by air circulation, slowed by about 5 miles per day, the study found.
Heat waves also now last about four days longer on average.
The longer heat waves stick around in one place, the longer people are exposed to life-threatening temperatures.
Heat waves also dry out soil and vegetation, harming crops and raising the risk of wildfires.
Persons:
”, Wei Zhang
Organizations:
Utah State University