Record breakers
Authors: None The Lancet Planetary Health
Journal: The Lancet Planetary Health (2019)

The last 22 years contain 20 of the warmest (global average) years on record. This trend is powerfully demonstrated by the popular #Showyourstripes initiative. That most of the warmest years have occurred very recently is hardly surprising given that our planet is being heated by increasing amounts of heat trapping CO2 in the atmosphere—primarily emitted from burning fossil fuels. In this context 2019, which has seen a number of record-breaking heatwaves, is displaying exactly the sorts of conditions that we should expect to see more and more often. Indeed, the trend is now so clear that it almost seems mundane to talk about temperature records being broken again, as climate vlogger Adam Levy (@ClimateAdam) put it “it's hard to talk about all this constant record breaking without sounding like a broken record”. In January persistent high-pressure in the Tasman Sea blocked cold fronts and cooler air, contributing to a prolonged heatwave across much of Australia with many records being broken. Temperatures peaked at 49·1°C (120°F) at Marble Bar in northwestern Australia and extreme temperatures persisted over much of the country for several weeks. Combined with severe drought, the hot weather facilitated major wildfire outbreaks in the southeast of Australia. Heat took its toll on wildlife too with mass fish deaths and fruit bats falling dead from trees among the reported impacts. In May and early June, India and Pakistan experienced two pronounced heatwaves. Temperatures reached 48°C (118°F) in some areas and though reported deaths vary, it's clear that the numbers are in the high hundreds to over a thousand. Failure to maintain an adequate supply of electricity and water to prevent heat-related deaths and sickness lead to public protests in many regions. Clearly there is much room for improved heatwave planning before the next such event in the region. In late June Europe experienced an atmospheric pressure system, which allowed hot air from north Africa to travel up into Europe where it led to temperatures up to 10°C above normal for the month. Historical records at locations in France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Spain were all broken, with Spain experiencing its worst wildfires in 20 years in the sweltering dry conditions. A Comment in this issue provides some context for understanding if this is the new norm, how bad things might get, and whether heat planning has improved since the disastrous events of 2003. In addition to becoming “old news”, heatwaves have several other public relations problems. Press coverage of heatwaves tends to focus on images of sun bathers and people playing in fountains, thus failing to recognise the more dangerous and life-threatening side of extreme heat. Furthermore, although we know from historical heatwave events that the numbers of excess deaths—those beyond the normal level of mortality for a given period—are often high they can only be identified statistically as data becomes available following the event. Consequently, the deaths reported in the media tend to be the relatively small number of people who died from direct heat-related conditions. This can make heatwaves feel relatively unthreatening and even pleasant in much media coverage. Furthermore, as pointed out in a Correspondence in this issue, where the media covers ways to avoid the worst impacts of heat they focus on individual vulnerabilities and behaviours rather than on social factors like income, housing quality, social networks, and healthy workplaces. More balanced reporting of social factors would help cast the problem as one of public health and not just individual behaviours. It's not all bad news though, an Article in this issue indicates that there was a reduction in heat-related mortality, at least from cardiovascular disease, in Spain between 1980 and 2016, although this wasn't explicitly down to climate adaptation. Perhaps even more encouragingly heat wave plans in Europe developed after 2003 do seem to have increased preparedness, reducing the negative impacts of the heatwave, although that will not be fully clear for some months. These plans also benefited from accurate forecasts, the temperature record in France was forecast by Météo-France three days in advance. It is certain that we will experience more and more extreme heat events and there is plenty of room for improved planning to adapt to these changes and minimise their impacts, in addition to cutting the carbon emissions which are driving the problem. For the #ShowYourStripes initiative see https://showyourstripes.info/For more on Australia's extreme temperatures see http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs68.pdf For the #ShowYourStripes initiative see https://showyourstripes.info/ For more on Australia's extreme temperatures see http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs68.pdf The day the 2003 European heatwave record was brokenOn June 28, 2019, a temperature of 45·9°C was recorded at a weather station in France, exceeding the country's previous temperature record—set during the infamous 2003 heatwave—by almost 2°C. The heatwave peaked over central and northern Europe, fuelled by a very persistent planetary-scale Rossby wave (giant meanders in upper-tropospheric winds), which turned into an omega block, so named because its shape resembles the Greek letter (Ω). This blocking event led to hot air from northern Africa being transferred to Europe (figure). Full-Text PDF Open AccessMisdiagnosing vulnerability to heatwaves in the mediaYet again we are faced with news about temperature records being broken. As regions, countries, cities, and individuals experience more frequent, intense, and extended heatwaves,1 people often turn to the media for advice on coping with what is already a substantial public health problem. For example, media coverage by television, radio, and newspapers has long been dominated by the medical model of health2 and its general advice on heat avoidance. This advice typically includes restricting physical activity, wearing loose and light-coloured clothing, drinking more water, cooling the body, and protecting against sunburn. Full-Text PDF Open AccessTrends in temperature-related age-specific and sex-specific mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Spain: a national time-series analysisIn Spain, the observed warming of the climate has occurred in parallel with substantial adaptation to both high and low temperatures. The reduction in the RR and the attributable fraction associated with heat would be compatible with an adaptive response specifically addressing the negative consequences of climate change. Nevertheless, the simultaneous reduction in the RR and attributable fraction of cold temperatures also highlights the importance of more general factors such as socioeconomic development, increased life expectancy and quality, and improved health-care services in the country. Full-Text PDF Open Access