“We already knew that the urban heat island effect exacerbates the city’s problem, but now we also have proof that people living in less built-up areas are threatened.”
Advertisement
The research examined mortality and maximum daily temperatures across 38 years – from 1981 and 2018 – in Southeast England and Aberdeenshire. v
Heat Waves Break Records in Britain
The GCARE team found that people living in the Southeast of England are now 7% more likely to die prematurely when the temperature rises significantly (about 6 degrees Centigrade) above 26.5 degrees Centigrade.
In Aberdeenshire, the risk of dying prematurely increases by 4%, compared to the Southeast of England, when the temperature increases by just two degrees from 24.5 degrees C to 26.7 degrees C.
Professor Kumar continued:
“The problem of rising temperatures is pronounced in southern England, but it’s probably only a matter of time before northern areas experience the same. More needs to be done to prepare for hot weather, and leaders in government – whether national, devolved or local – need to update their heat action plans and identify how to protect vulnerable people during heatwaves.”
Source: Eurekalert
