The hottest summer of the last 50 years affected 76 million people

Scientists from the international research organization Climate Central analyzed the impact of climate change on extreme heat and the population affected by these temperatures in Turkey this summer, as part of their daily local temperature attribution system, the Climate Shift Index (CSI).

The CSI, which measures how climate change resulting from global fossil fuel use alters daily temperature values, uses zero as its center point. A CSI level of zero for a temperature value in a region indicates that climate change caused by human activity has no detectable impact on that temperature.

Positive CSI levels (1-5) mean that there is a detectable impact of climate change on temperatures. A CSI level of 1 indicates that there is a detectable impact of climate change, making it 1.5 times more likely that the temperature is higher than normal. CSI levels of 2 and above indicate that the probability of temperature values remaining higher than normal is 2 or 3 times greater.

According to the analysis shared by Climate Central with an AA reporter, 76 million people in Turkey (88 percent of the population) were exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat during the June-August period, which became at least three times more likely (CSI level 3) due to climate change and is considered risky for human health.

Mersin, Adana, Denizli, Diyarbakır, and İzmir were the cities affected for the longest duration by the high temperatures caused by climate change. During this period, Mersin remained under the influence of temperatures at CSI level 3 and above for 90 days, Adana for 82 days, Denizli for 75 days, Diyarbakır for 71 days, and İzmir for 53 days.

These temperatures were felt for 47 days in Istanbul, 46 days in Bursa, 44 days in Konya and Balıkesir, 41 days in Ankara, 31 days in Samsun, and 17 days in Kayseri.

THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURES IN TURKEY SINCE 1970

According to the analysis, Turkey experienced its hottest June-August period since at least 1970, largely due to the impact of climate change.

Average temperatures were 2 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. Throughout these three months, values were recorded in Turkey where the probability of seeing temperatures above normal increased at least three times due to climate change.

2 BILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED BY EXTREME HEAT GLOBALLY

During the June-August period, 2 billion people worldwide were exposed to high temperatures lasting at least 30 days that were caused by climate change and threatened human health. This means that one in every four people in the world was affected by extreme heat.

On July 22, the hottest day on record globally, 3.6 billion people (45 percent of the global population) were exposed to temperatures at CSI level 3 and higher, while 4.1 billion people faced extreme heat on August 13 as global temperatures peaked.

During this period, 72 countries around the world recorded their hottest summer since 1970 due to the impact of climate change.

These included countries from every region of the world, such as Greece, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania, Moldova, South Korea, Qatar, Iran, Hungary, Egypt, Cameroon, and Croatia.

In the Northern Hemisphere, 180 cities experienced at least one extreme heatwave during the June-August period. The probability of these heatwaves occurring increased 21-fold, particularly due to pollution caused by the use of coal, oil, and gas.

Climate Central Vice President Andrew Pershing stated that the high temperatures caused by climate change endangered the health of billions of people worldwide throughout the summer, warning, "No region, country, or city is safe from the deadly threats created by fossil fuels."

News Source: AA