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The spatiotemporal variability and trends of atmospheric blockings over the Euro-Atlantic region and their influence on the occurrence of the persisting extreme temperature conditions in Poland namely heat waves (HWs) and cold spells (CSs) during the period 1979–2023 were analyzed. Blockings were identified at 500 hPa geopotential level, using the meridional geopotential gradient method, supplemented with the quantile filter and persistence filter, using reanalysis data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Physical Science Laboratory (NCEP-DOE AMIP-II R-2). HWs and CSs were defined as sequences of at least 3 days with the maximum air temperature above 30 °C or below -10 °C, respectively based on data obtained from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (IMGW – PIB) for the period 1979–2022 across 37 stations in Poland. The climatology of Euro-Atlantic blocking occurrence in the zonal belt between 45 and 75 degrees in the northern hemisphere exhibits high spatiotemporal variability. Blocking structures are most frequent in the spring, particularly in May. A secondary peak of frequency is observed in July when the Ural blocking exhibits 15% frequency. Patterns of trends in blocking occurrence are variable and the strongest signals of changes are observed in spring. The occurrence of HWs in Poland is constantly accompanied by blocking situations, most often located northeast of Poland, while the winter CSs are associated with the blockings located over the North Atlantic and northern Scandinavia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of moisture in the soil can significantly influence hot extremes, such as heatwaves and droughts, through various direct and indirect mechanisms. This study examines the impact of soil moisture initialisation on the simulations of the 2009 heatwave event over India using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) model. Multiple initial conditions were produced by modifying actual soil moisture in ERA-5 reanalysis. The impact of soil moisture on the intensity and spatial extension of heatwave is studied, and physical mechanisms are examined in detail. The control simulations have reasonably simulated spatial patterns of soil moisture and maximum temperature when compared with gridded observations. Our results show that an increase (decrease) in initial soil moisture simulates a heatwave with reduced (enhanced) magnitude and spatial extent. Interestingly, an increase in soil moisture does have more influence on heat waves than a decrease in soil moisture. In wet simulations, we see a greater increase in latent heat flux when compared to a decrease in sensible heat. Additionally, wet simulations shift soil moisture-temperature coupling from a dry regime to a transitional regime. An overall increase in net radiation is observed in wet simulations through water vapour and cloud feedback. Reduced soil moisture enhances the high-pressure system associated with heatwaves through positive feedback on geopotential height in the mid-troposphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat waves (HW) are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather that can cause severe socioeconomic and environmental impacts. This study aims to evaluate the differences in stored heat and turbulent flux partitioning during a heat wave event in Mexico City, using observations from an eddy covariance tower during the period from 14 June to 21 June 2023. During this period, net radiation (Rn) and sensible heat flux (H) increased significantly, particularly from noon to evening, reflecting stable atmospheric conditions. The air temperature showed a noticeable increase in the afternoon and evening, whereas absolute humidity decreased. We found that during the heat wave, the Bowen ratio (β) increased by 80% during daylight hours and 65% over a full 24-hour period compared to the pre-heat wave period. This heat release at night prolonged warm conditions, intensifying heat stress. The partitioning of net radiation for latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), and heat storage (ΔQs) showed significant changes; during the heat wave, 51% of Rn was allocated to H and 34% to ΔQs, compared to pre-heat wave values of 49% and 27%, respectively. This study introduces a new characterization of heat waves in terms of energy, emphasizing the significant shifts in energy flux partitioning and storage. The new characterization highlights the critical role of urban heat storage and its release in exacerbating heat stress during and after heat wave events. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the energy dynamics during heat waves, which is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies to combat the adverse effects of extreme heat in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of Senegal faces health challenges related to desert dust and heat waves (HWs). This study aims to (a) update the documentation of HWs in Senegal, expanding on the work of Sambou et al. (2019); (b) investigate the modulation of dust indicators during HWs; and (c) assess the distinct impacts of dust content on night-time and daytime HWs. We use [i] the daily maximum air temperature (Tx), minimum air temperature (Tn), and apparent temperature (Ta) from 12 stations in the Global Surface Summary of the Day (GSOD) database and [ii] the Dust Aerosol Optical Depth (Dust AOD), particulate matter (PM) concentrations, 925 hPa wind, and Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis. HWs are defined for each station in spring as periods when Tx, Tn, or Ta exceeds the 95th percentile for at least three consecutive days. Three homogeneous zones from the Atlantic coast to inland Senegal are identified using hierarchical cluster analysis: Zone 1 (Saint-Louis, Dakar-Yoff, Ziguinchor, and Cap Skirring), Zone 2 (Podor, Linguère, Diourbel, and Kaolack), and Zone 3 (Matam, Tambacounda, Kédougou, and Kolda). Our results show that Zone 1 records the highest number of HWs for Tx, Tn, and Ta, while Zone 3 experiences more HWs in terms of Tn and Ta than Zone 2. The influence of dust is notably stronger for HWs linked to Tn and Ta than for those related to Tx. Analysis of the mechanisms shows that the presence of dust in Senegal and its surrounding regions is detected up to four days before the onset of HWs. These findings suggest that dust conditions associated with spring HWs in Senegal may be better distinguished and predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) effect, marked by higher temperatures in urban areas compared to rural ones, is a key indicator of human-driven environmental changes. This study aims to identify the key morphological parameters that primarily contribute to the development of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and investigates the relationship between SUHII and urban morphology using land surface temperature (LST) data from the Sentinel-3 satellite. The research focuses on Milan and Lecce, analyzing how urban geometry affects SUHII. Factors such as building height, aspect ratio, sky visibility, and surface cover are examined using approximately 1000 satellite images from 2022 and 2023. The study highlights seasonal and diurnal variations in SUHII, with particular emphasis on HW periods. Through multicollinearity and multiple regression analyses, the study identifies the main morphological drivers influencing SUHII in the two cities, specifically the Impervious Surface Fraction (ISF) and Mean Building Height (HM). Milan consistently exhibits higher SUHII, particularly during HWs, while Lecce experiences a negative SUHII, especially during the summer, due to lower urban density, more vegetation, and the low soil moisture around the urban area. Both cities show positive SUHII values at night, which are slightly elevated during HWs. The heat wave analysis reveals the areas most susceptible to overheating, typically characterized by high urban density, with ISF and HM values in some cases above the 90th percentile (0.8 and 13.0 m, respectively) compared to the overall distribution, particularly for Milan. The research emphasizes the importance of urban morphology in influencing SUHII, suggesting that detailed morphological analysis is crucial for developing climate adaptation and urban planning strategies to reduce urban overheating and improve urban resilience to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining the effect of an exposure of interest and selecting an appropriate estimation method are prerequisites for causal inference. Current understanding of the ways in which an association between heat waves (ie, consecutive days of extremely high temperature) and an outcome depends on whether adjustment was made for temperature and how such adjustment was conducted is limited. In this paper we aim to investigate this dependency, demonstrate that temperature is a confounder in heat-wave–outcome associations, and introduce a new modeling approach with which to estimate a new heat-wave–outcome relationship: E[ R (Y)| HW  = 1, Z ]/E[ R (Y)| T  = OT , Z ], where HW is a daily binary variable used to indicate the presence of a heat wave; R (Y) is the risk of an outcome, Y ; T is a temperature variable; OT is optimal temperature; and Z is a set of confounders including typical confounders but also some types of T as a confounder. We recommend characterization of heat-wave–outcome relationships and careful selection of modeling approaches to understand the impacts of heat waves under climate change. We demonstrate our approach using real-world data for Seoul, South Korea. Our demonstration suggests that the total effect of heat waves may be larger than what may be inferred from the extant literature. An R package, HEAT , has been developed and made publicly available. This article is part of a Special Collection on Environmental Epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probability of heat extremes is often estimated using the non-stationary generalized extreme value distribution (GEVD) applied to time series of annual maximum temperature. Here, this practice was assessed using a global sample of temperature time series, from reanalysis (both at the grid point and the region scale) as well as station observations. This assessment used forecast negative log-likelihood as the main performance measure, which is particularly sensitive to the most extreme heat waves. It was found that the computationally simpler normal distribution outperforms the GEVD in providing probabilistic year-ahead forecasts of temperature extremes. Given these findings, it is suggested to consider alternatives to the GEVD for assessing the risk of extreme heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given rapid glacier thinning and retreat observed in the Pyrenees in recent decades, an updated glacier inventory and continuous mass balance assessments are important to understand the ongoing variability and changes of these very small glaciers (< 0.5 km2). The mass balance years 2021/22 and 2022/23 were characterised by prolonged extreme heat waves and reduced snow duration that severely affected the Pyrenees, which also impacted their glaciers. This paper reviews the criteria for classifying ice bodies as glaciers or ice patches, presents the latest high-resolution glacier inventory for the Pyrenees, and quantifies the mass losses caused by the extreme climate conditions in 2022 and 2023. The glacierised area was determined by manual mapping of high-resolution (0.2 m spatial resolution) aerial orthomosaics acquired by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aerial orthophotos (0.25 m spatial resolution) for the few glaciers not surveyed by UAVs. 3D point clouds, also obtained from UAV flights, were used to update the results for the change in surface elevation (glacier thickness) and mass balance between 2020 and 2023. For the Pyrenees, the total glacierised area in 2023 is 143.2 ± 1.8 ha in 15 different glaciers and 8 ice masses were degraded to ice patches according to our criteria. The resulting area change between 2020 and 2023 is -94.8 ha, representing a -39.8% decrease of the glaciarised area from 2020 to 2023, increasing the annual ratio of area change from 2020 to 2023 by -8.7% yr−1 compared to the period 2011–2020 (-2.4% yr−1). The change in glacier thickness measured on 12 glaciers shows a decrease of -2.52 m yr−1 for the period 2020–2023, which represents a significant acceleration in glacier thickness loss compared to -0.80 m yr−1 for the period 2011–2020. The three glaciers (Infiernos, Monte Perdido and Aneto) on which annual geodetic measurements were carried out showed slightly higher glacier thickness losses (-0.91 m yr−1) in the first mass balance year (2020/21) than in the previous decade (2011–2020), while the losses in the last two mass balance years (2021/22 and 2022/23) were three to four times higher (-3.42 m yr−1 and -3.07 m yr−1 respectively) and exceeded the record values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the dynamic of emergency department (ED) access during heat waves. Given the importance of avoiding overcrowding and long waits in an ED, it is important to explore all the possible determinants of ED inflows. We shed some light on the impact that heat waves have on this dynamic, via a quantitative analysis of the number of ED visits in the Campania region of Italy during the summers between 2016 and 2019. Aggregating individual-level data, we examine the relationship between extreme heat events and number of ED visits, controlling for social, demographic and economic characteristics. Our findings, obtained through Random Effects Poisson and fractional probit estimations, show that heat waves above 39 perceived degrees Celsius significantly increase the number of ED visits, revealing the impact that heat waves have on ED utilization in Campania. Insights for local public health strategies and emergency preparedness initiatives are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has significant implications for agriculture, especially in viticulture, where temperature plays a crucial role in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) growth. Mendoza's climate is ideal for producing high-quality wines, but 21st-century climate change is expected to have negative impacts. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increased temperature on the phenology, physiology, and yield of Malbec, Bonarda, and Syrah. A field trial was conducted over two seasons (2019–2020 and 2020–2021) in an experimental vineyard with an active canopy heating system (+2–4 °C). Phenological stages (budburst, flowering, fruit set, veraison, harvest), shoot growth (SG), number of shoots (NS), stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll content (CC), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), and water potential (ψa) were measured. Additionally, temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and canopy temperature were recorded. Heat treatment advanced all phenological stages by approximately two weeks, increased SG and NS, and reduced gs and ψa during the hottest months. CC and CF remained unaffected. The treatment also resulted in lower yields, reduced acidity, and increased °Brix in both seasons. Overall, rising temperatures due to climate change advance the phenological phases of Malbec, Syrah, and Bonarda, leading to lower yields, higher °Brix, and lower acidity, although physiological variables remained largely unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming has significantly increased the risk of heat waves (HWs) globally, with India being particularly vulnerable during the summer months (March-June; MAMJ). This study investigated the critical relationship between Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) and the occurrence of premonsoon HWs in subsequent years across the Indian subcontinent. It has been hypothesized that droughts during the ISMR could lead to more frequent HWs in the following MAMJ period. Using the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) gridded observed surface air daily maximum temperature (Tmax) dataset for the period 1951–2023, we analyzed the climatic patterns, interannual variability (IAV), and coefficient of variation (CV) of Tmax across India. The analysis compares two distinct periods: 1951–1999 (P1) and 2000–2023 (P2), with focus on Tmax trends and HW duration, distinguishing between short-duration HWs (SHWs, 2 days) and long-duration HWs (LHWs, 5 days or more). A key purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the preceding all India summer monsoon rainfall (AISMR) and the occurance of various types of HW in the subsequent premonsoon season. In particular extreme AISMR events, such as droughts or excess rainfall, influence HW occurrence. The findings reveal a significant rise in Tmax across many regions of India during the MAMJ period, with the highest temperatures (> 37 °C) observed in northwestern, central, and eastern coastal areas. Northern India, particularly the Himalayan region, exhibits a greater interannual variability in Tmax, with June showing the most pronounced fluctuations. The study also highlights an increase in the frequency and intensity of HWs, especially in central and southern India, with the Chandigarh-Haryana-Delhi region recording the highest occurrences. A critical finding is the strong inverse relationship between the AISMR and conditions in the subsequent premonsoon season. Specifically, drought in the antecedent AISMR results in reduced soil moisture, which is strongly associated with higher premonsoon Tmax and an increased frequency of extreme heat events across India, particularly in regions prone to severe heat during this season. Drought conditions during AISMR are closely linked to higher HW frequencies in the following summer, especially in the central, northeast-central, and east-coastal regions. The frequencies of HW days, SHWs, and LHWs are significantly greater in years following AISMR droughts than in those following excess rainfall, indicating that drought years are more likely to lead to widespread HW activity. Despite the overall warming trends, some regions, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain and parts of the Himalayan region, show cooling trends, although these trends are less widespread. The onset of the monsoon in June tends to reduce the intensity and spatial extent of warming, particularly in the central and eastern coastal regions, although significant HW trends persist in northwestern India and along the east coast. This study underscores the crucial role of AISMR in influencing HW events across India and highlights the need for adaptive strategies that account for the interactions between monsoon rainfall and HW risk, providing valuable insights for mitigating the impacts of HWs in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel hybrid approach for the probabilistic reconstruction of meteorological fields based on the combined use of the analogue method (AM) and deep autoencoders (AEs). The AE–AM algorithm trains a deep AE in the predictor fields, which the encoder filters towards a compressed space of reduced dimensionality. The AM is then applied in this latent space to find similar situations (analogues) in the historical record, from which the target field can be reconstructed. The AE–AM is compared to the classical AM, in which flow analogues are explicitly searched in the fully resolved field of the predictor, which may contain useless information for the reconstruction. We evaluate the performance of these two approaches in reconstructing the daily maximum temperature (target) from sea‐level pressure fields (predictor) recorded during eight major European heat waves of the 1950–2010 period. We show that the proposed AE–AM approach outperforms the standard AM algorithm in reconstructing the magnitude and spatial pattern of the considered heat wave events. The improvement ranges from 7% to 22% in skill score, depending on the heat wave analyzed, demonstrating the potential added value of the hybrid method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Global warming has significantly increased the risk of heat waves (HWs) globally, with India being particularly vulnerable during the summer months (March-June; MAMJ). This study investigated the critical relationship between Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) and the occurrence of premonsoon HWs in subsequent years across the Indian subcontinent. It has been hypothesized that droughts during the ISMR could lead to more frequent HWs in the following MAMJ period. Using the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) gridded observed surface air daily maximum temperature (Tmax) dataset for the period 1951–2023, we analyzed the climatic patterns, interannual variability (IAV), and coefficient of variation (CV) of Tmax across India. The analysis compares two distinct periods: 1951–1999 (P1) and 2000–2023 (P2), with focus on Tmax trends and HW duration, distinguishing between short-duration HWs (SHWs, 2 days) and long-duration HWs (LHWs, 5 days or more). A key purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the preceding all India summer monsoon rainfall (AISMR) and the occurance of various types of HW in the subsequent premonsoon season. In particular extreme AISMR events, such as droughts or excess rainfall, influence HW occurrence. The findings reveal a significant rise in Tmax across many regions of India during the MAMJ period, with the highest temperatures (> 37 °C) observed in northwestern, central, and eastern coastal areas. Northern India, particularly the Himalayan region, exhibits a greater interannual variability in Tmax, with June showing the most pronounced fluctuations. The study also highlights an increase in the frequency and intensity of HWs, especially in central and southern India, with the Chandigarh-Haryana-Delhi region recording the highest occurrences. A critical finding is the strong inverse relationship between the AISMR and conditions in the subsequent premonsoon season. Specifically, drought in the antecedent AISMR results in reduced soil moisture, which is strongly associated with higher premonsoon Tmax and an increased frequency of extreme heat events across India, particularly in regions prone to severe heat during this season. Drought conditions during AISMR are closely linked to higher HW frequencies in the following summer, especially in the central, northeast-central, and east-coastal regions. The frequencies of HW days, SHWs, and LHWs are significantly greater in years following AISMR droughts than in those following excess rainfall, indicating that drought years are more likely to lead to widespread HW activity. Despite the overall warming trends, some regions, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain and parts of the Himalayan region, show cooling trends, although these trends are less widespread. The onset of the monsoon in June tends to reduce the intensity and spatial extent of warming, particularly in the central and eastern coastal regions, although significant HW trends persist in northwestern India and along the east coast. This study underscores the crucial role of AISMR in influencing HW events across India and highlights the need for adaptive strategies that account for the interactions between monsoon rainfall and HW risk, providing valuable insights for mitigating the impacts of HWs in the context of global warming.

Abstract This study explores the dynamic of emergency department (ED) access during heat waves. Given the importance of avoiding overcrowding and long waits in an ED, it is important to explore all the possible determinants of ED inflows. We shed some light on the impact that heat waves have on this dynamic, via a quantitative analysis of the number of ED visits in the Campania region of Italy during the summers between 2016 and 2019. Aggregating individual-level data, we examine the relationship between extreme heat events and number of ED visits, controlling for social, demographic and economic characteristics. Our findings, obtained through Random Effects Poisson and fractional probit estimations, show that heat waves above 39 perceived degrees Celsius significantly increase the number of ED visits, revealing the impact that heat waves have on ED utilization in Campania. Insights for local public health strategies and emergency preparedness initiatives are discussed.

Land surface processes such as the soil moisture—air temperature coupling influence compound climate anomalies like heatwaves and droughts, yet the spatial and temporal variability of the coupling strength is still understudied. We assess global land exposure to concurrent heat waves and drought since the 1980s. We found that drought significantly shapes the spatial distribution of the risk of heat waves. We show that the portion of global land experiencing drought‐conditioned heat anomalies more than tripled in less than 3 decades. However, using such traditional heat waves indicators, the level of spatial coupling between heat waves and drought seems to decline. Conversely, time‐dependent approaches accounting for the baseline climate change offer a more stable perspective. We conclude that tailoring hazard definitions to specific processes and impacts is crucial. Early warning systems can play a prominent role in mitigating the impacts of global warming to society. Plain Language Summary: Climate change is increasing the risk of simultaneous heatwaves and droughts, which significantly impact ecosystems and society. These events are influenced by soil moisture and air temperature interactions, but the variability of this relationship is not well understood. Using data from observations and forecasts since the 1980s, we analyzed global exposure to these compound events. We found that drought significantly influences where heatwaves occur, with the area experiencing both drought and heatwaves more than tripling in less than 30 years. Traditional methods for detecting temperature anomalies may give misleading results, so we recommend using time‐dependent approaches that account for climate change. These approaches provide a clearer understanding of soil moisture‐air temperature interactions and are better for studying the impacts on adaptable systems. Traditional methods are still useful for assessing impacts on less adaptable ecosystems and some societal sectors. We also highlight the importance of weather forecasts in providing early warnings to help society adapt to global warming. Key Points: Drought significantly influences heatwave locations. The affected global land area tripled in under 30 yearsTime‐dependent approaches better reflect soil moisture‐air temperature interactions amid climate changeWeather forecasts are crucial for early warnings, aiding societal adaptation to global warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and heat stress pose significant challenges to livestock. Local breeds, particularly small ruminants, are gaining importance due to their adaptability to harsh climates. However, the extensive system they are commonly reared in leaves them exposed to the effects of climate change. This study aims to describe the distribution and climate-related challenges faced by registered Italian sheep and goat breeds over the past seven decades. Geolocalized data from all registered small ruminant farms were combined with climatic information retrieved from the "ERA-5-Land hourly data from 1950 to present" dataset. These data were used to calculate average daily temperature, temperature humidity index (THI), and total precipitation during summer. Additionally, THI-based heat waves (HWs) were examined, including the yearly number of HW days and mean THI during HW days. These data were analysed through linear regression models including region or breed, year, and their interaction as fixed factors. The climate data indicate a concerning trend of rising summer temperatures, THI, and HW frequency and intensity, particularly over the past three decades. Central-northern Italy, including the Po Valley and the Alpine Arch, is the most affected region, impacting breeds like Rosset and Brogne sheep, and Lariana and Frisa Valtellinese goats. This is of particular concern because these populations have not been selected for hot climates, and their already small population size exacerbates the problem. Conversely, southern Italy, characterized by hotter and drier temperatures, remained relatively stable. Breeds from this region, such as Girgentana and Nicastrese goats and Nera di Arbus sheep, might represent excellent case studies for climatic adaptation and potential resources for selection for resilience in the face of ongoing climate changes. The findings presented here are essential for the development of monitoring and intervention strategies for breeds facing future vulnerabilities, as well as for designing experiments to explore environmental adaptability in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change predictions indicate that future conditions will be hotter and drier, and rainfall will be more variable. Climatic conditions can affect individual condition and shape offspring sex ratios. The implications that climate change have for mammalian sex allocation are vast but are currently poorly understood.There are several scenarios under which climate‐driven sex allocation responses might emerge. Here, I make predictions on the direction of offspring sex ratio biases under hypothetical situations of restricted resource availability and altered social/spatial structures that may result from hotter, drier conditions.I searched the literature for existing evidence of climate‐driven offspring sex ratio biases among individuals studied in wild populations. There was no strong, directional support for the production of sons or daughters under 'good' or 'poor' climatic conditions among the 30 studies had reported on climatic variables and offspring sex ratio.I also searched the literature for studies that assessed maternal condition and offspring sex ratio in natural populations (i.e. there is a link between climate, resource availability and maternal condition). Of the 27 investigations, half reported a bias in favour of sons born to mothers in 'good' condition (56%). I discuss how this outcome could be due to a publication bias, or that it may indicate that low resource availability has the potential to lead to mothers in poor condition and the production of fewer sons.I consider the conservation implications of climate‐driven offspring sex ratios skews being carried through to the population level. I discuss the challenge of being able to account for the multiple factors that influence offspring sex ratios in natural populations and emphasise the growing need for more research in this important area of mammalian evolutionary ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is twofold. From the practical point of view, an enhanced model for the description of thermoelectric effects at nanoscale is proposed. From the theoretical point of view, instead, in the particular case of the proposed model, the equivalence between two classical techniques for the exploitation of the second law of thermodynamics is shown, i.e., Onsager's method and Liu's technique. An analysis of the heat-wave propagation is performed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on heat waves is greatly important not only due to their effect on social, economic, and ecological systems, but also due to the complexity of the processes that create them. Therefore, this research mainly investigated the trend of long-term changes in various characteristics of heat waves in hot and dry regions of Iran. For this purpose, the daily maximum temperature data of 15 meteorological stations in the central and southeastern parts of Iran were used from 1985 to 2018. Using the excess heat factor (EHF) index, five different features of heat waves including the number of heat waves (HWN), heat waves duration (HWD), heat waves frequency (HWF), heat waves mean (HWM), and heat waves magnitude (HWA) were extracted for all the studied stations. Then, their trend of long-term changes was analyzed using the Sen's slope estimator nonparametric method. The results showed that on a regional scale, all five characteristics of heat waves have an increasing trend at a significance level of 95%, so an increase of 0.5 events per decade has been observed for the HWN. The trend of long-term changes in the HWD has also indicated an increase of 0.91 days per decade. The HWF has shown more drastic changes than other characteristics of heat waves, so in every decade 2.61 days have been added to the frequency of days contributing to the occurrence of heat waves. The regional intensity of HWM and HWA also show an increase of 0.1 and 0.4 °C in each decade, respectively. These findings show the importance of choosing a suitable index for monitoring different characteristics of heat waves. The EHF index is a suitable index, which can be one of the efficient indices in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability and accuracy of high‐resolution Real‐Time Meso‐scale Analysis (RTMA) system is assessed over India for the first time. The RTMA is a high‐spatial (2.5 km) and temporal resolution analysis system for near‐surface weather conditions. It is used to simulate near‐surface air temperature over India during the Heatwave (HW) period 12th to 20th April 2023. The verification analysis of temperature using the GLDAS gridded temperature shows reasonable improvement in the analysis from RTMA by capturing regional features compared to first‐guess. The spatial and temporal verification using the IMD station observations also confirms the value addition of RTMA in capturing the locations of recorded highest Tmax and their daily variations. The location‐specific heat stress analysis of RTMA shows high skill over many locations during HW days. Heat stress regions have been accurately brought out in the RTMA. Hence, the RTMA can be used for now‐casting and severe weather monitoring. Plain Language Summary: Heat wave (HW) alert systems require accurate high‐resolution surface weather data for better adaption strategies. Real‐Time Meso‐scale Analysis (RTMA) system configured to generate surface weather parameters at a high‐spatial (2.5 km) and temporal (3 hrs) resolution at National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) for the very first time in India. We verified its performance in representing the HW conditions and extreme temperatures over the Indian region relative to India Meteorological Department (IMD) observations/Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) during the HW period of 12th to 20th April 2023. Our results indicate significant improvement in the spatial and temporal variations of daily maximum temperature simulated by RTMA system. We have noted lower absolute mean errors of ∼ 0.02 for the RTMA in predicting the Tmax over the HW affected regions of Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and East Uttar Pradesh when compared to the GFS model. These improvements have led to the better identification of the locations of higher heat risk through the computation of the Heat Index and highlight the applicability of RTMA. Overall this study clearly brings out the usability of RTMA final analysis fields for now‐casting and severe weather monitoring. Key Points: It is a first‐of‐its‐kind study to understand the applicability and accuracy of high‐resolution RTMA over India by analyzing heatwaveRTMA temperature analysis shows higher skill over the heatwave regions and locations as compared to the background fields and observationsThe study suggested that the RTMA final analysis fields are highly useable for severe weather monitoring and impact‐based weather forecasts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat waves pose significant health risks, particularly for the elderly, affecting renal function through dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and reduced renal perfusion.: Older adults exhibit increased serum creatinine and cystatin C levels during extreme heat due to age-related physiological changes, medication effects, and decreased renal reserve. These changes can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Comparative studies highlight the elderly's heightened vulnerability to heat-induced renal dysfunction compared to younger populations. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing interventions to protect this at-risk group. Heatwaves pose significant health risks to the elderly, particularly concerning renal dysfunction. Antihypertensive medications, such as thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs, exacerbate the increase in creatinine levels through mechanisms involving dehydration, impaired kidney perfusion, heightened AKI risk, age-related renal changes, and interactions with comorbidities. Comparative effects of these medications highlight distinct pathways leading to renal impairment during extreme heat. Preventive measures, including adequate hydration, access to cooling environments, and regular medication reviews, are critical. Additionally, dietary adjustments such as protein restriction, increased fiber intake, sodium control, and maintaining hydration can support kidney health. Public health strategies must focus on mitigating the impact of heatwaves on elderly kidney function, ensuring safety during antihypertensive therapy, and further research is needed to develop targeted interventions for extreme heat exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress induced damage to the gastrointestinal barrier can induce local and systemic inflammatory reactions implicated in heat-stroke. Gastrointestinal barrier damage has been shown to be greater in older relative to young adults following hyperthermia. However, comparisons between young and older adults have been limited to brief exposures (3 h), which may not reflect the duration of heat stress experienced during heat waves. We therefore evaluated markers of intestinal epithelial damage (log transformed intestinal fatty acid binding protein, IFABPLOG), microbial translocation (soluble cluster of differentiation 14, sCD14LOG), and systemic inflammation (tumour necrosis factor alpha, TNF-αLOG; interleukin 6, IL-6LOG; C-reactive protein, CRP) in 19 young (interquartile range: 21–27 years; 10 females) and 37 older (68–73 years; 10 females) adults before and after 9 h of rest in 40 °C (9% relative humidity). The magnitude of the increase in IFABPLOG was 0.38 log pg/mL (95% CI, 0.10, 0.65 log pg/mL) greater in the older relative to young cohort (P = 0.049) after 9 h heat exposure. At baseline both IL-6LOG and CRP concentrations were higher in the older (IL-6: 2.67 (1.5) log pg/mL, CRP: 0.28 (1.5) mg/mL) relative to the young (IL-6: 1.59 log pg/mL, SD 1.2; CRP: 0.11 mg/mL, SD 1.7) group (both P ≤ 0.001). The change in IL-6 and CRP was similar between groups following 9 h heat exposure (IL-6: P = 0.053; CRP: P = 0.241). Neither sCD14LOG and TNF-αLOG were different between groups at baseline nor altered after 9 h heat exposure. Our data indicate that age may modify intestinal epithelial injury following 9 h of passive heat exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of heat waves on the productivity of the Italian food industry. Using daily weather and firm‐level data for the 2004–2019 period, we show that a heat wave causes, on average, a reduction in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of about 3.2%. Smaller firms are more severely affected, with a reduction of approximately 7%, revealing unequal impacts within the same country and sector. The reduction in TFP can be partially attributed to lower workers' productivity, with labour input increased in order to compensate for productivity loss. The estimated effect is heterogeneous across subsectors, with some well‐known Italian products (e.g., wine production) more severely affected by heat waves. These findings have significant policy implications due to the expected increase in the frequency of heat waves caused by climate change, and are particularly important in the case of the Italian food industry, which is mainly composed of small firms. The paper highlights the need to investigate further the impacts of heat stress on the entire food system, as most of the literature has predominantly focused on the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulnerability to heat waves and their negative effects on health vary not only due to individual factors but also due to situational factors, such as time and geography. Hence, we explored seasonal variations and predictors of heat wave feelings of threat across different heat wave geographical susceptibility locations in Portugal. A total of 238 Portuguese residents responded to a web‐based longitudinal survey: before the summer, during a heat wave in the summer, during the summer, and after the summer. Geographical location was used as an indicator of risk exposure, operationalized as heat wave occurrence susceptibility (low, moderate, high). Heat wave demands and resources perceptions were assessed to compute an indicator of heat wave feelings of threat. During the heat wave, feelings of threat were higher among participants in high‐susceptibility locations, with demands outweighing resources perceptions, suggesting greater distress and coping difficulty. Regression analysis suggested that older participants and female participants living in moderate–high‐susceptibility locations had greater difficulty in recovering. Heat wave risk perception and positive affect about heat were identified as the most consistent predictors of heat wave feelings of threat, with risk perception increasing and positive affect decreasing such feelings. Participants with (individual and geographical) vulnerability profiles, who had greater difficulty in coping and recovering from heat waves, could benefit from resource‐building/enhancing interventions. In a climatic crisis context, monitoring psychological responses to heat waves (e.g., threat) may enable anticipated action to build resilience before, rather than after, the effects become damaging to physical and psychological health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations classified Iraq as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Temperatures continue to rise leading to more heat waves, droughts, sandstorms, and desertification. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of heat waves over Iraq from 1982 to 2050 using CMIP6 model at RCP4.5 scenarios. The results clearly showed that the effects of climatic changes were evident in the maximum and minimum temperatures inside Iraq. Average temperature increased of 1.9°C between 1982 and 2020. During 1999, there was a sharp increase in summer days for all stations. The annual number of summer days for the stations (Basra, Nasiriyah, Baghdad, Rutba, Sulaymaniyah, and Mosul) was (195, 193, 177, 108, 106, and 142), while in 2039 the number of summer days was found to be (212, 206, 194, 143, 144, and 149), respectively. The increase in the number of discrete heat wave events began in 2020 and will continue until 2050 for almost the entire territory of Iraq. The warmest day in Basra was in July 2016 with 53.2°C, while the projection of the warmest day was found in July 2046 with 55.7°C. The coldest daily temperature reached -5.03 °C for Baghdad in 1997 and -10.1°C for Sulaymaniyah in 1985, while the projection of the coldest day was -16.2°C over Sulaymaniyah in 2039. The trend of the number of days contributing to cold wave events was decreasing for all stations whereas the coldest year for all stations was 1992 for the entire period (1982 to 2020). Heat waves accelerated from the beginning of the study period in 1982 and continued to increase until the end of the study in 2050 in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: A better understanding of plant carbon assimilation, water status and photosystem performance responses to combined heat and drought stress would help to optimize grapevine management under such limiting conditions. Methods: Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured in potted grapevines, cv Sauvignon Blanc, before, during and after simulated six-day heat (Tmax = 40 °C) wave using heated well-watered (HW), heated drought-stressed (HD), non-heated well-watered (CW) and non-heated dry (CD) vines. Results: Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in HW vines increased during the morning and dropped in the afternoon with respect to CW vines. Daily plant transpiration in HW almost doubled that of CW vines. When grapevines were already exposed to drought, the effects of the heat wave were negligible, with HD plants showing similar leaf photosynthesis and transpiration to their CD counterparts. Heat, but not drought stress, decreased the maximum (Fv/Fm) and effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (φPSII), and also affected the use of absorbed energy. HW plants dissipated more radiative energy as heat, a protective mechanism of the photosystem, while HD vines increased the energy dissipated by non-regulated non-photochemical pathways, which might lead to photoinhibition damages. The different behavior could be due to the enhanced transpiration rate and consequent decrease in leaf temperature in HW as compared to HD vines. After the heat wave, only HW vines recovered the afternoon values of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and φPSII to similar levels as those in CW vines. Conclusion: Drought had a more significant effect than heat stress on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration. The combined heat and drought stress, however, increased the proportion of energy lost by the leaves through harmful non-regulated dissipative pathways. With adequate soil water availability, grapevines withstood the heat wave period through an increase in leaf transpiration, which decreased leaf temperature and protected the PSII from heat damage. Highlights: Drought had a stronger impact on gas exchange parameters than elevated temperature during a simulated heatwave, while heat stress was the main driver of PSII functionality and absorbed energy partitioning. Well-watered grapevines were able to recover their physiological function after a six-day heatwave (Tmax 40 °C), while plants under heat and drought stress were unable to resume PSII performance after one day of recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future projections indicate a global increase in heat waves, especially in urban areas due to climate change and the heat island effect, leading to adverse human, economic, and environmental outcomes. Cities worldwide respond by integrating climate mitigation and adaptation measures. While long-term strategies dominate research, this paper explores the increasing interest in short-term solutions, examining the Barcelona Climate Shelter Network. Investigating climate shelter initiatives, it highlights the use of public or private spaces for respite during extreme heat. This model offers insights for other European cities facing escalating heat waves, encouraging reflections on reshaping public services amidst climate crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Climate change has profound effects on species' distributions, and it is crucial to understand how well physiological limits correspond to distribution patterns to provide realistic estimations of future range shifts and/or extinctions. Seaweeds are foundation species of global coastal ecosystems, and sea surface temperature is a main predictor to explain their distributions and redistributions under global warming. We here test the hypothesis that, in contrast to other marine ectotherms, physiological knowledge of temperature niches is a weak predictor for seaweed distributions. Location: Global. Time Period: Present (1984–2019). Taxa: Seaweeds. Methods: We analysed the predictive power of physiological temperature limits to predict real‐world distributions in 126 globally distributed seaweed species with linear and generalized linear mixed models. Results: In 72% of the species, there was a difference of ≥|2|°C between the physiological and the realized thermal limits. Both, thermal underfilling (distributional thermal limits narrower than the physiological limits) and overfilling (distributional thermal limits wider than the physiological limits) were present. Thus, in only 28% of the species the physiological limits corresponded to the distributional limits. While heat‐tolerance is a significant predictor for upper distributional temperature limits, we found no relationship between cold‐tolerance and lower distributional temperature limits and the latter two seem to be independent. Main Conclusions: Physiological thermal limits have limited predictive power for seaweed distributions and deviations may be large. Especially cold‐tolerances are a weak predictor, and forecasting of migrations under changing global conditions (e.g. towards the poles) will need special attention. This indicates that responses towards climate change might be highly variable between seaweed species and difficult to predict. Further, nearly 60% of the investigated species had populations which are close to or beyond their reported upper survival limits and are thus probably under threat of eradication by elevation of sea surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst various form of urbanization induced climate change, changing thermal environment is the most widely studied and understood phenomenon. The impervious surfaces in urban areas absorb and re-emit the heat from solar radiation more than those of natural landscape which causes an elevated temperature in global cities. Due to increasing impervious surfaces and emissions from anthropogenic sources, the diurnal temperature range (DTR) is declining in cities while the frequency of extreme temperature events (TXX) is increasing. Hence, in this study, the trend of DTR and TXX has been examined in Delhi and Mumbai mega cities of India. For this study, India Meteorological Department (IMD) provided daily temperature data for 13 meteorological stations in Mumbai and 21 meteorological stations in Delhi. The DTR and TXX have been analysed using the RClimDex-Extraqc package while the trend of DTR and TXX has been analysed using the innovative trend analysis (ITA). The result showed that during 1991–2018, DTR has declined by about 1.5 °C in Delhi and about 0.2–0.4 °C in Mumbai, while TXX has increased by about 0.1–1.4 °C in Delhi and about 4 °C in Mumbai. The trend analysis of DTR and TXX using ITA showed that the DTR has a declining trend in both the cities while TXX has an increasing trend. The declining DTR and increasing TXX may increase the vulnerability to heat waves for the city dwellers and deteriorate the urban thermal comfort in both the cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The population disease burden caused by extreme temperature events has been increasing. However, research on the long-term effects of extreme temperature events on chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as the combined effects with individual behaviors and metabolic factors is still lacking. Based on 176,874 participants from the most recent nationally representative surveillance on CKD and validated high spatial resolution (0.1°) remote-sensing products, this study investigated the associations between extreme temperature events in the preceding five years before investigation and CKD (defined by reduced renal function or albuminuria) prevalence. We also investigated the associations between “Life’s Essential 8”, a recognized scale to evaluate overall cardiovascular health (CVH) based on individual behaviors and metabolic indicators and CKD prevalence, as well as its combined effects with extreme temperature events. One additional day of heat waves and cold spells per year was associated with increased ORs of CKD [1.10 (95 % CI: 1.08, 1.11) and 1.07 (95 % CI: 1.05, 1.09), respectively]. Meanwhile, per standard deviation (SD) increment in health behavior score (SD = 16.1), health factor score (SD = 18.4), and overall CVH score (SD = 12.4) were associated with decreased ORs of CKD [0.92 (95 % CI: 0.90, 0.93), 0.60 (95 % CI: 0.59, 0.61), and 0.64 (95 % CI: 0.63, 0.65, respectively]. Relative to higher heat wave & lower CVH score group, the ORs of CKD were 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.84, 0.90), 0.51 (95 % CI: 0.48, 0.53), and 0.42 (95 % CI: 0.40, 0.44) in lower & lower, higher & higher, and lower & higher group, respectively. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the synergistic effects of individual behavioral and metabolic factors for strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on CKD.

Heat waves (HW) are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather that can cause severe socioeconomic and environmental impacts. This study aims to evaluate the differences in stored heat and turbulent flux partitioning during a heat wave event in Mexico City, using observations from an eddy covariance tower during the period from 14 June to 21 June 2023. During this period, net radiation (Rn) and sensible heat flux (H) increased significantly, particularly from noon to evening, reflecting stable atmospheric conditions. The air temperature showed a noticeable increase in the afternoon and evening, whereas absolute humidity decreased. We found that during the heat wave, the Bowen ratio (β) increased by 80% during daylight hours and 65% over a full 24-hour period compared to the pre-heat wave period. This heat release at night prolonged warm conditions, intensifying heat stress. The partitioning of net radiation for latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), and heat storage (ΔQs) showed significant changes; during the heat wave, 51% of Rn was allocated to H and 34% to ΔQs, compared to pre-heat wave values of 49% and 27%, respectively. This study introduces a new characterization of heat waves in terms of energy, emphasizing the significant shifts in energy flux partitioning and storage. The new characterization highlights the critical role of urban heat storage and its release in exacerbating heat stress during and after heat wave events. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the energy dynamics during heat waves, which is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies to combat the adverse effects of extreme heat in urban environments.

Background The impact of heat waves and atmospheric oxidising pollutants on residential mortality within the framework of global climate change has become increasingly important. Objective In this research, the interactive effects of heat waves and oxidising pollutants on the risk of residential mortality in Fuzhou were examined. Methods We collected environmental, meteorological, and residential mortality data in Fuzhou from 1 January 2016, to 31 December 2021. We then applied a generalised additive model, distributed lagged nonlinear model, and bivariate three-dimensional model to investigate the effects and interactions of various atmospheric oxidising pollutants and heat waves on the risk of residential mortality. Results Atmospheric oxidising pollutants increased the risk of residential mortality at lower concentrations, and O3 and Ox were positively associated with a maximum risk of 2.19% (95% CI: 0.74–3.66) and 1.29% (95% CI: 0.51–2.08). The risk of residential mortality increased with increasing temperature, with a strong and long-lasting effect and a maximum cumulative lagged effect of 1.11% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.23). Furthermore, an interaction between atmospheric oxidising pollutants and heat waves may have occurred: the larger effects in the longest cumulative lag time on residential mortality per 10 µg/m3 increase in O3, NO2 and Ox during heat waves compared to non-heat waves were [−3.81% (95% CI: −14.82, 8.63)]; [−0.45% (95% CI: −2.67, 1.81)]; [67.90% (95% CI: 11.55, 152.71)]; 16.37% (95% CI: 2.43, 32.20)]; [−3.00% (95% CI: −20.80, 18.79)]; [−0.30% (95% CI: −3.53, 3.04)]. The risk on heat wave days was significantly higher than that on non-heat wave days and higher than the separate effects of oxidising pollutants and heat waves. Conclusions Overall, we found some evidence suggesting that heat waves increase the impact of oxidising atmospheric pollutants on residential mortality to some extent.

As summer heat events cause a further increase of heat load in buildings, the need for indoor overheating assessment by building performance simulations (BPS) for planning is rising. Besides other boundary conditions, the selection of proper weather data is known to significantly influence the outcome of overheating evaluation. Our research pointed out that current standards do not consider weather data including regional differences, urban climate effects or future climate in a sufficient way.We suggest a new approach to create weather data sets for an average present and an average future summer based on meteorological data from weather stations. Therefore, we define characteristic summer values as indicators. In addition, urban climate is taken into account by mapping the outdoor temperature differences between urban areas and surrounding countryside using Local Climate Zones. We analyse the developed weather data sets for four regions in Germany by comparing the indoor overheating risk by BPS for an exemplary building. The results show that the overheating risk differs significantly between the regions. It is very low for the region of Hamburg, moderate for Dresden and Potsdam and highly critical for Stuttgart. The indoor heat load is at least more than doubled if the building is located in the city centre instead of its surroundings or if future climate conditions are applied. Furthermore, high night-time outdoor temperatures appear to significantly increase indoor overheating. Our approaches are first suggestions and show the relevance of regional and urban climate for indoor overheating assessment by BPS.

Recently, the intensity and frequency of heat waves (HWs) have been increased worldwide. Particularly in 2022, Europe was severely affected by unprecedented HWs, which caused approximately 61,672 deaths and 11,324 deaths in Europe and Spain, respectively. In this study, we investigate the mechanisms of the HWs in southwestern Europe (SWEU) to identify the differences between typical HWs and the extreme HWs that occurred in 2022. Our results showed that the SWEU events in 2022 were strongly related to robust heat domes that developed in the lower troposphere due to high-pressure anomalies especially during two periods (9–18 June and 8–19 July). Analyses of the energy budget and thermodynamic equation revealed the processes underlying the amplification of the heat domes over SWEU during both periods. We also discovered that abnormal atmospheric blocking in the upper troposphere was closely associated with the amplification of the Gulf Stream SST, which caused an atmospheric circulation pattern favorable for the 2022 SWEU-HWs. This was further confirmed by modeling experiments. Therefore, our results emphasize that a Gulf Stream SST amplification can trigger an atmospheric circulation pattern favorable for extreme HWs in SWEU, enhancing our understanding of the mechanism behind extreme HWs. Finally, our findings will help improving the forecasting of SWEU-HWs on a sub-seasonal time scale, as well as future projections in global climate models.

Introduction: Extreme heat and heat waves have long been recognized as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease exacerbations and death. Differential outcomes among structurally marginalized populations are less well understood, and in particular, the impact of this environmental hazard on cardiac mortality deserves further exploration for these populations. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to characterize the scientific literature examining the impact of extreme heat on cardiovascular mortality among structurally marginalized populations in the United States. Using relevant medical subject headings (MeSH) and key terms, a systematic search of the indexing databases of Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science for English-language manuscripts published from inception to July 2023 for primary research, systematic reviews, meta analyses, and narrative reviews was performed. Results: 4674 articles were screened, of which 33 which met inclusion criteria. The majority (73 %) of these were primary quantitative research studies, all of which were observational in nature. Half of the research designs were cohort studies. The most common marginalized group described was that of older adults (79 % of manuscripts), while race/ethnicity (42 %), sex/gender (42 %), and lower socioeconomic status (49 %) were also commonly explored. Most studies assessed aggregated composite cardiovascular mortality as the primary end point, with only four fractionating myocardial ischemia/infarction as the cause of death. Conclusions: Future directions of study for the field include additional analyses of other marginalized groups including differently-abled, immigrant, outdoor laborers, incarcerated peoples, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and Asian American/Pacific Islander populations, as well as determining the impact of diverse socioeconomic parameters, and examining disaggregated cardiac outcomes.

Rising summer temperatures pose significant challenges to healthcare systems, particularly in low-resource settings. This article examines the impact of heatwaves on government sector tertiary care emergency centers in Karachi, Pakistan and addresses the alarming increases in heatstroke cases and associated mortality during extreme heat events. The study signifies the urgent need for adaptive measures to enhance emergency preparedness, public awareness, and heat mitigation strategies. Addressing heat-related illnesses requires collaborative efforts from healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders. Effective interventions can mitigate the impact of rising temperatures on vulnerable populations and reduce heat-associated mortality. Plain language summary: Due to increasing global temperatures, the rate of heat stroke has increased, especially in countries already lacking healthcare facilities. This has led to high death rates due to heat stroke whenever temperatures soar high in the summer. It is important to understand and highlight the problems before proposing solutions and this article aims to do so by highlighting the barriers to delivering emergency healthcare to heat stroke patients, the underlying reasons why these problems exist, and proposes solutions to the government and concerned entities to tackle these problems and make sure they are corrected to guarantee a future with fewer deaths due to heat stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Motivated by the significance and complexity of exploring spatiotemporal patterns - regions within an urban environment, particularly in the context of extreme heat events- this research analyzes meteorological time series through complex network analysis. The data collected for the examination area is focused on Athens, Greece, and covers sections of the city’s urban landscape. The data was obtained from the Copernicus observation component of the European Union. Initially, the time series are transformed into networks using correlation network methodology, followed by examination of the discriminative capability of the topological measures of networks degree and modularity as community - region detection methods. Of particular interest is that our findings suggest that the proposed complex network analysis can lead to the extraction of spatial urban regions closely linked to land use and building heights in corresponding areas. These results may help investigate the spatial variability of heat in the urban environment and inform urban planning and management strategies in policy decision-making regarding the intensity of urban heat throughout the city and the planning of climate change adaptation strategies.

Reanalysis and observational data are used to identify the precursors of summertime heat waves over the Eastern Mediterranean. After compiling a list of heat waves using objective criteria, we identify robust precursors present 7–10 days before the onset of the heat wave, longer than the typical horizon for trustworthy weather forecasts. If these precursors are present, there is a significant warming over the Eastern Mediterranean over the following 10 days that persists for weeks after. These precursors include a weakened Indian monsoon, a strengthened Sahelian monsoon, warm Western/Central Mediterranean sea‐surface temperatures, and a midlatitude low‐pressure system from the west. Further, horizontal temperature advection is the proximate cause of the heat wave in the days before the extreme; in particular, a weakening of the Etesian winds that would otherwise advect relatively cool maritime air inland accounts for around half of the warming. There has been a clear tendency for more heat extremes in recent years. These results have implications for forecasting anomalous summer temperatures in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the framework developed here can also be applied in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies on social welfare in South Korea have examined the effects of climate change, especially heat waves on vulnerable populations. The present study aims to investigate how heat waves affect vulnerable populations. This study utilized a cross-sectional study design, using the daily heat index and heat-related mortality data for Seoul, South Korea, in summer 2018. The research used micro-raw data of deaths caused by hypertensive, ischemic heart, and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as heat index data. An effect was observed for the heat index on mortality for individuals over 65 years of age, men, people with spouses, and those ages 75–79 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To translate and validate the heat wave knowledge, awareness, practice and behavior scale (HWKAPBS) in Greek. METHOD We conducted a cross-sectional study in Greece with a convenience sample of 147 individuals. We assessed test-retest reliability, internal reliability, face validity and construct validity. We calculated intraclass correlation coefficients, the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20, and Cronbach's coefficient alpha. Moreover, we performed confirmatory factor analysis to assess the construct validity of the HWKAPBS. RESULTS Intraclass correlation coefficients for the four constructs (knowledge, awareness, practice, behavior) ranged from 0.918 to 0.993 (p<0.001 in all cases). All model fit indices in the confirmatory factor analysis were acceptable. Thus, confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the structure of the original version of the HWKAPBS with the four structures: knowledge, awareness, practice and behavior. Correlations between awareness, practice and behavior constructs were very high and statistically significant (p<0.001 in all cases). Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 for the knowledge construct was 0.611. Moreover, Cronbach's coefficients alpha for the awareness, practice and behavior constructs were 0.929, 0.866, and 0.766, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The HWKAPBS is a brief, reliable and valid tool to measure knowledge, attitudes and practice of the general public about heat waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]