An analysis of past and future heatwaves based on a heat-associated mortality threshold: towards a heat health warning system.

ABSTRACT: Heatwaves can have severe impacts on human health extending from illness to mortality. These health effects are related to not only the physical phenomenon of heat itself but other characteristics such as frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves. Therefore, understanding heatwave characteristics is a crucial step in the development of heat-health warning systems (HHWS) that could prevent or reduce negative heat-related health outcomes. However, there are no South African studies that have quantified heatwaves with a threshold that incorporated a temperature metric based on a health outcome. To fill this gap, this study aimed to assess the spatial and temporal distribution and frequency of past (2014 - 2019) and future (period 2020 - 2039) heatwaves across South Africa. Heatwaves wer

SUBMITTER: Kapwata T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9675182 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature