As we continue to add gases to the greenhouse stew, we may be increasing the risk of heat-related deaths. W hen corals bleach, they offer particularly vivid evidence of a species under stress.
Humans can provide another striking example.
In July 1995, for instance, a heat wave paralyzed the city of Chicago for nearly a week. Sustained high temperatures directly contributed to the deaths of 500 people. As we continue to add gases to the greenhouse stew, we may be increasing the risk of heat-related deaths. Even a small hike in average temperature can increase the risk of heat waves. Heat waves can be especially deadly in cities because hot weather accelerates the chemical reactions that produce urban smog, which can cause respiratory distress.