The analysis carried out by the BBC on the basis of the EU's environmental data program Copernicus shows that the days when the temperature reaches over 50 degrees somewhere in the world, have increased for each decade since the 80s.
Between 1980 and 2009, an average of about 14 days per year were recorded when the temperature exceeded 50 degrees.
Between 2010 and 2019, the number increased to approximately 26 days per year.
- It is highly expected that we see such an increase.
This is in line with global warming, which means that it is not only the average heat that has increased but also the number of hot and extremely hot days, says Erik Kjellström, professor of climatology at SMHI.
Record temperatures
Temperatures around 50 degrees are most common in the Middle East and the Gulf states, but researchers have warned that such high temperatures will become more common in several parts of the world.
At the end of June this year, a heat wave swept across western North America and record temperatures of over 49 degrees were recorded in Canada.
On the way to even warmer temperatures
The fact that it is getting warmer in the world is something that is also stated in the latest IPCC report.
And the development will be difficult to reverse, says Erik Kjellström.
- It will not change unless you reverse the whole trend with global warming.
And even if we were to succeed in reducing emissions, we already have so much carbon in circulation, which will lead to high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere for many hundreds of years to come, says Erik Kjellström and adds:
- There is nothing to suggest that it will be cooler, but on the contrary, we are rather on the way to even warmer temperatures because we continue to see very high emissions of carbon dioxide.
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