Measures to Reduce Air Pollution Could Make Heatwaves Worse, Study Suggests

Tired Earth

By The Editorial Board

Researchers believe tiny man-made particles, such as those produced by car exhausts, could have an influence on the severity of future heatwaves.

A computerised model was used by scientists from the University of Edinburgh to carry out research on the impact of particles in the atmosphere.

They concluded that cutting air pollution could inadvertently make heatwaves worse in some parts of the world.

This could happen by disrupting the formation of clouds that reflect heat from the sun back into space.

The researchers suggest this would cause peak day-time temperatures to increase.

Heatwaves in the northern hemisphere would be more likely to be affected because of widespread efforts to improve poor air quality in countries within that region.

Professor David Stevenson, of the University of Edinburgh, said: "We desperately need to improve air quality.

"However, our results suggest that in doing so, we may inadvertently worsen heatwaves. Air pollution and climate change are inextricably linked and we need to develop smart pollution control policies that take these links into account."

Source : www.standard.co.uk

Most Viewed

The monarch butterfly may not be endangered, but its migration is, researchers find

Comment

Why we need a UN Treaty on plastic pollution The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK charity working on business, learning, insights & analysis, and communications to accelerate the transition towards the circular economy.
Air Pollution for Kids Air is all around us and we need it to survive.
Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution? Our oceans are being filled and killed by throwaway plastics.
Climate Change, Ecological Crisis and Sustainability We are all agents for change in climate action.
Climate Racism Climate Racism: Social Inequalities in the Age of Climate Change