Heatwave frequency over time (IMAGE)
Caption
According to climate model data, the global-mean heatwave frequency is expected to rise throughout the 21st century. This is in large part due to greenhouse gases rising at the same time aerosols are declining. This figure from the study shows the influence of aerosols and greenhouse gas levels on heatwave frequency. It separates out the influence of aerosols (purple) and the influence of greenhouse (green), while also showing their combined influence (black). The black dots mark 30-year trends in heatwave frequency. The purple dots mark the influence of aerosol levels on these trends and whether they decrease the heatwave hazard or increase it. The decline of aerosols significantly increases the heatwave hazard throughout the 21st century.
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Persad et al
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