Understanding Heat Waves and Climate Change

What type of heat wave is becoming more dangerous as the climate warms?

• Snowstorms

• Wet-bulb events

• Cold waves

• Dry heat waves

What atmospheric condition typically drives dry heat waves?

• Low pressure systems

• Cold fronts

• High pressure systems

• Tropical cyclones

Why is humid heat particularly dangerous for humans?

• It causes rapid dehydration

• Sweat evaporates less efficiently

• It leads to frostbite

• It increases UV exposure

What does the wet-bulb temperature combine to assess danger levels?

• Heat and humidity

• Humidity and wind speed

• Wind speed and temperature

• Temperature and altitude

What is the range of uncompensable wet-bulb temperatures?

• 10 to 20 degrees Celsius

• 19 to 32 degrees Celsius

• 25 to 40 degrees Celsius

• 30 to 45 degrees Celsius

Which regions are most likely to experience dangerous wet-bulb temperatures at 2 degrees Celsius of warming?

• Central Africa

• Northern Europe

• Most of India and China

• Antarctica and Greenland

What is the primary adaptation measure for surviving extreme heat?

• Wearing lighter clothing

• Drinking more water

• Staying in the shade

• Using air conditioning

What is a major downside of relying heavily on air conditioning?

• It increases humidity

• It is energy intensive and expensive

• It reduces air quality

• It causes skin irritation

How can cities be redesigned to better handle extreme heat?

• Increasing road width

• Planting trees and installing green roofs

• Building more skyscrapers

• Installing black roofs

What is a sustainable solution to meet the growing demand for air conditioning?

• Building more power plants

• Increasing fossil fuel use

• Reducing global population

• Transitioning to renewable energy