In July, the Earth reached a critical point of global warming: how it will change our lives

In July, the world saw for the first time what summer would be like with global warming of 1,5 degrees Celsius. Scientists warn that warming should not exceed this threshold. But in recent years, the Earth is approaching it faster and faster. Writes about it Yahoo!.

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The average global temperature in July, the hottest month on record, was about 1,5 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial era that ended in the mid-to-late 1800s, the European Union's climate change service said Tuesday. Copernicus.

July was followed by a series of deadly heatwaves and record temperatures across several continents, as well as unprecedented ocean warmth around the world. Copernicus scientists say this is the first month of summer that temperatures have risen above 1,5 degrees, giving a glimpse of what summer will look like in the future.

The 1,5 degree threshold is important because scientists see it as a key tipping point for the planet, after which the likelihood of heat waves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and food and water shortages will become even more unfavorable for life as we know it.

How will this change our lives?

Life as we know it could soon change if extreme, dangerous heat waves continue to flood regions for longer periods of time, experts say. ABC News.

Warmer than ever temperatures and longer periods of time when they occur will become the norm, climate scientists say, unless greenhouse gas emissions are drastically curtailed, mitigating further global warming. According to climate modeling data released by the ICF Climate Center in June, Americans could see an average of 53 more days of extreme heat by 2050 if emissions are not cut.

On the subject: 'Time bomb': UN predicted a lot of catastrophes due to global warming

Rising temperatures are guaranteed to change the way society works.

How will the kids spend their summer?

Summer is synonymous with outdoor time for school-age children around the world.

But parents should be careful about allowing their children to spend extended periods of time outdoors when temperatures are approaching triple digits, especially if air quality is poor or UV indices are high.

“The open world is transforming from a magical place of exploration to a menacing place full of fear,” said Liz Van Susteren, a general and forensic psychiatrist who has researched how climate change has affected the psychological health of young people.

Less time outdoors can also be detrimental to children's development. Research shows that being outdoors is associated with improved motor development and reduced rates of obesity and nearsightedness in children. Research has shown that outdoor play also promotes curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking and is associated with behaviors that show less anger and aggression.

Van Susteren said few things could be more detrimental to a child's development than being cooped up inside a home, adding that humans have evolved to find the sounds and sights of nature meaningful and essential to a healthy outlook.

“Yes, you can always create something artificial. But don't expect it to help us mentally, which includes our ability to empathize and be generous and have a sense of adventure," she said.

According to the US Surgeon General, the evidence that being indoors is detrimental to the mental health of children was obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic. It exacerbated pre-existing psychological stress among young people.

Athletes can change their workouts

Athletes of all ages and levels will likely need to modify their workouts to stay safe during extreme heat, but those gearing up for intense competition in hot climates need to be especially careful, said Brian Majorano, spokesman for Core trainer. technology that allows athletes to measure core body temperature on the go.

Those preparing for competitions and races will need to adapt to warmer temperatures in order to participate safely, said Maiorano, who has trained athletes for running and triathlon competitions for 15 years.

“The human body is extremely adaptable if properly trained,” he said.

Instead of training indoors with climate control, athletes will need to train outdoors and bring core body temperatures to levels that trigger physiological adaptations, Majorano said. Otherwise, the athletes will suffer on the day of the competition.

According to Maiorano, temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (+32,2 Celsius) are considered extreme for cardio athletes, while temperatures above 80 (+26,6) would be considered extreme for those preparing to compete with physical stress. According to him, about 80% of the heat in the body is generated by the strength of the muscles.

"It's like having a heater inside you," he said.

According to Maiorano, until a few years ago, heat training was "an imprecise practice."

People training for warm climate events like the Hawaii Ironman and the Western States Endurance Run, which is a 100-mile race through the California desert, were told by coaches to go outside during the hottest part of the day in multiple layers of clothing.

“Cook yourself, but don't overcook yourself,” is a very vague guideline, Maiorano said. “It’s guidance you can give to a top athlete and hope they don’t give themselves heatstroke, but it’s not something you can tell an age group athlete.”

Peak travel seasons and destinations will change

Extreme heat will affect people's travel decisions during the summer, the height of the tourist season when children are out of school, said Erica Richter, spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Consultants.

“The climate crisis will affect where we drive, when we drive, and in some cases whether we drive,” Richter said.

The travel industry is already seeing shifts towards travel to Greece, France and Spain, Richter said. Although the peak tourist season usually falls in July, in recent years, record temperatures have been reached in Europe at this time. Combined with wildfires, the climate drives people to travel to these places in the spring or early summer, Richter said.

People are also starting to choose cooler summer travel destinations, such as Northern Europe, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, Richter said.

Extreme heat also greatly affects air travel

Airplanes find it difficult to take off at high temperatures because as air warms, it expands, so the number of molecules that can push the plane up decreases. In June, Richter experienced a six-hour delay on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Ore., because the plane was unable to take off with so many passengers, she said.

While some passengers took out a $1000 loan they were offered to give up their seat, Richter said, the non-stop flight originally had to make a refueling stop in Missouri because the plane couldn't handle the fuel load needed to flight.

Extreme heat can also increase turbulence. A 2017 study found that climate change could cause nearly three times more clear-sky turbulence than current conditions between 2050 and 2080. Clear-air turbulence, which occurs without visual warnings such as clouds or thunderstorms and usually occurs at high altitudes, is now on the rise around the world and at different altitudes, the study found.

There have been several reports of severe turbulence this summer, including a Hawaiian Airlines flight in July that injured several flight attendants and passengers.

Richter said the wildfires in Canada, which have been so intense this season due in part to warmer temperatures and drought, have affected travel to the US.

As the heat and humidity increase, there is a possibility that thunderstorms will stop flights, Richter said.

“We are used to thunderstorms during the summer tourist season,” she said. “But they are becoming much more violent and they are grounding many more flights.”

Dependence on air conditioners will increase

As climate change continues to worsen, regions that have not traditionally needed air conditioning may need to prepare for new heatwaves by installing equipment to cool their homes.

In places like the Pacific Northwest and the San Francisco Bay Area, most homes don't have central air conditioning. In 2021, as a historic heat wave hit the region, window and portable air conditioners disappeared from the shelves in an instant, said Jennifer Amann, senior fellow at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Building Program.

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Adopting efficient cooling methods, such as using the same pumps that heat homes to cool them, as well as using efficient window air conditioners, will help people maintain tolerable temperatures in their homes, Amann said.

Heat is the #1 weather-related killer, with more than 600 deaths each year in the US from heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When the temperature does not decrease during the night, this exacerbates the risk to human health.

Buying an air conditioner is a short-term solution, but people will also need to adapt their homes to better cope with extreme heat, and builders will need to design new homes with more passive mechanisms to navigate the changing climate.

The economy may suffer

Extreme heat is wreaking havoc with economies around the world.

According to an analysis by the Center for Economic Policy Research, countries in Europe such as France, Italy, Spain, Romania and Germany have been hit the hardest by climate-related natural disasters over the past 20 years.

Texas is losing an average of $30 billion a year due to its climate and large numbers of people working outdoors, according to a 2021 report from the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Sustainability Center, a think tank in Washington, D.C.

According to a study published in 2022 in the journal Science Advances, cumulative global economic losses between 1992 and 2013 reached between $5 trillion and $29,3 trillion due to the impact of anthropogenic heatwaves.

The researchers found that the poorest countries with the hottest climates were hardest hit.

The heat also affects people's moods, which is essentially survival mode, according to Van Susteren.

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