For the first time, the Canadian government has conducted a rapid analysis of a period of extreme heat and determined its connection to human-caused climate change.The analysis conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) found that a heat wave in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada between June 17 and 20 was made two to 10 times more likely because of climate change. “In all regions, the event was made much more likely by the human influence on the climate,” Greg Flato, senior research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said during a briefing for reporters.The analysis noted abnormally high daytime temperatures, high humidity and warmer-than-normal nighttime lows. Bathurst and Saint John, N.B., in particular set all-time records for the hottest temperature since data was first gathered in the 1870s.ECCC’s study is the start of a pilot project, where researchers will analyze weather data and climate model simulations to compare how these types of events have changed between today’s climate and the cooler pre-industrial one.
Source: Canada draws link between June heat wave and climate change in landmark study | CBC News
