Spanish scientists named a heat wave “Zoe” for the first time.
According to USA Today, scientists named a heatwave in Seville between July 24 and July 27 that saw temperatures rise to 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4 degrees Celsius).
Jose Maria Martin Olala, assistant professor in the department of condensed matter physics at the University of Seville, said there is a new effort to warn people of extreme temperatures and warn them of the dangers.
Storms have long had human names, and in 2012 an unofficial practice of naming winter storms emerged in the United States. But “Zoe” is the first name for a heatwave.
The name is the result of the efforts of the proMETEO Sevilla Project, an initiative of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation of the Atlantic Council, a think tank and nonprofit based in Washington.
Seville is the pilot site of the project, which aims to raise public awareness of extreme heat and promote efforts to reduce the risks of heat waves.
Heatwaves are defined by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) as periods of at least three consecutive days between 1971 and 2000, in which at least 10% of weather stations recorded maximum temperatures above of the 95th percentile during July-August.
There is no single definition of a heatwave in the United States, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a standard of at least two days in which the humidity-adjusted minimum daily temperature is higher than the 85th percentile within months. July and August between 1981 and 2010.
Heat waves can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people who do manual work outdoors. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) calculated that between 2000 and 2016, the number of people exposed to extreme heat increased by 125 million per year.
And in July, temperatures in the UK exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) for the first time. This level of heat can be deadly, especially in areas without air conditioning.
The United States is also experiencing periods of extreme heat with climate change. On August 15, the nonprofit First Street Foundation released a report highlighting that extreme heat may become more common in the coming years.
Their models suggest that the Deep South, southern Arizona, and southern and central California will experience some of the most drastic changes. For example, Miami-Dade County, Florida will see 34 days above 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius) by 2053.
Zoe may be the first mentioned heatwave, but it won’t be the last. Authorities in Spain plan to change men’s and women’s names in reverse alphabetical order for future heat events.
By naming the heatwaves, proMETEO Sevilla hopes to inform the public that they need to be more careful, reports USA Today.
During a heatwave, the World Health Organization recommends opening windows at night to let in cooler air and keep out daylight.
Source: Science Alert
Source: Arabic RT
