Heat stress problems for humans caused by global warming

These links are from web browsing with some assistance from Gemini, Google's generative AI assistant and from a student of Amanda Green They focus on describng the results of research regarding heat waves, extreme temperatures, and their impact on human health, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly, young children and the those who are already not well. Studies are showing that global warming is leading to more frequent and severe heat waves, significantly increasing the risk of heat stress related illnesses. This is especially true for cities which experience higher temperatures due to the increased absorption of solar radiation by concrete, glass bitumen and steel.

Global air temperture anomalies from NASA visualization studio 1880-2024: positive and negative anomolies. NASA Visualization Studio. This link includes movies and both the Robinson and Orthographic earth projections. For the top movie set the playback speed to 1.5 (open the three dots, bottom right hand corner). This shows how incresed temperature is disbributed, with many parts of the world experiencing significantly more than average increases.
See also the figure: Surface air temperature anomaly 2023. Copernicus, Reference period 1991-2020, data ERA5. Accessed 14 February 2025.
Health impacts especially of increasing temperatures: The impact of climate change on your health: what you need to know. by MPH Editorial Contributor, Public health, 25 January 2025.
The link gives a simple background to the effect of heating on the human body: Heat stress: what is it and how is it measured. Copernicus: Europe's eyes on earth Climate Change Service. Accessed 14 February 2025.
"Heat and health" fact sheet from the World Health Organization: Offers information on the global burden of heat-related deaths and the health risks associated with extreme heat. Heat and health. World Health Organization, 28 May 2024. Accessed 14 February 2025.
"Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks" A Lancet article by a group of authors discusses the health consequences of extreme heat, including heat stroke and cardiovascular complications. Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks. The Lancet, Volume 398 (10301), 698-708 (2021) by Kristie L Ebi, Anthony Capon, Peter Berry, Carolyn Broderick, et al.
An article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science focusing on the consequence for humans of increased heat stress: Communicating the deadly consequences of global warming for human heat stress. by Tom K. R. Matthews, Robert L. Wilby, and Conor Murphy, PNAS 114 (15), (2017) 3861-3866.
Another link from NASA which is a wake-up call to humanity: The Effects of Climate Change: Earth Will Continue to Warm and the Effects Will Be Profound. Accessed 12 February 2025.
An article from Environment International including the effects on wildfires and crops: Global heat stress on health, wildfires, and agricultural crops under different levels of climate warming. Environment International, 128, (2019) 125-136, by Qiaohong Sun, Chiyuan Miao, Martin Hanel, et al.

14 February 2025