Retrospection of heatwave and heat index

Abstract

The frequency and intensity of extreme events especially heat waves (HW) are growing all around the world which ultimately poses a serious threat to the health of individuals. To quantify the effects of extreme temperature, appropriate information, and the importance of HW and heat index (HI) are carefully discussed for different parts of the world. Varied definitions of the HW and HI formula proposed and used by different countries are carried out systematically continent-wise. Different studies highlighted the number of definitions of HW; however, mostly used Steadman’s formulae, which was developed in the late 1970s, for the calculation of HI that uses surface air temperature and relative humidity as climatic fields. Since then, dramatic changes in climatic conditions have been observed as evident from the ERA5 datasets which need to be addressed; likewise, the definition of HW, which is modified by the researchers as per the geographic conditions. It is evident from the ERA5 data that the temperature has increased by 1–2 °C as compared to the 1980s. There is a threefold increase in the number of heatwave days over most of the continents in the last 40 years. This study will help the researcher community to understand the importance of HW and HI. Furthermore, it opens the scope to develop an equation based on the present scenario keeping in mind the basics of an index as considered by Steadman.

Heat waves in the Colombian Caribbean: A public health problem?

“…Aunque no existe un consenso sobre la definición de "ola de calor", lo que sí es cierto es que algunos de los conceptos varían por regiones y países, dado que este es un fenómeno que se expresa temporalmente en un territorio concreto. Por ejemplo, en algunas zonas de los Estados Unidos se considera ola de calor cuando se registra una temperatura de por lo menos 26,7 °C durante al menos 48 horas consecutivas; en Australia, por su parte, cuando la temperatura máxima diaria supera los 35 °C durante un período de 3 o más días consecutivos; en Sudáfrica, si los valores de temperatura máxima diaria superaron el percentil 90 durante al menos 3 días consecutivos 7 .…”

Different explanations for surface and canopy urban heat island effects in relation to background climate

“… 29 In particular, compared with the SUHIs, the CUHIs is more relevant to outdoor thermal health 30 because heat stress is a function of air temperature and not necessarily LST. 31 , 32 Thus, it is important to understand the mechanisms responsible for CUHIs.…”

Global warming and testis function: A challenging crosstalk in an equally challenging environmental scenario

“…The first is defined as the increase of the mean environmental temperature compared to the 1850–1900 baseline, currently established as +1.25°C ( Haustein et al, 2017 ). The second still does not find a consensus in terms of a definition and is generally considered as temperatures that are either unusually high compared to characteristic local environments or extend to the level which may harm human health and infrastructures ( Awasthi et al, 2022 ). Given the “extraordinarily anomalous” nature and the temporal limitation, it is relatively easier to analyze the health consequences derived from exposure to a heat wave, being able to establish with sufficient precision the conditions prior to the climatic event, the extent of this last (temperatures reached, degree of humidity, duration of time, etc.)…”