Live data from Hacker News

US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

bbc.com

11–20 of 224 posts

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#11

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

What I don't understand is what people who argue against climate change stand to gain.

The argument for climate change is: "humans are polluting the planet and it's causing a change in the environment and will have a disastrous effect on the climate." The arguments I hear against climate change always seem to concede that humans are polluting the planet, but argue in different ways (natural cycle/not really happening/etc.) that this pollution has no effect.

Even if this were true, why would it be a bad idea to reduce the level of pollution in the environment ? We know we're screwing up, why don't we do our best to clean it and make it usable for the next generations ?

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#12

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

The dust bowl looks to have lasted 6 years, I wonder if what we are currently experiencing will differ in terms of longevity. If we are in for multi decade heatwaves this is something entirely different.

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#13

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

In a different part of the world with different weather patterns?

I'm willing to assume that professional climate researchers are aware of the 1930s heat wave.

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#14

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

Were these extended (in time) heatwaves or just a particular few days with record temperatures? The current heatwave over North America seems like it's going to carry on for all of the next week, and who knows how longer after that. Maybe that's the difference?

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#15

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

Those highs are 105-110 in the Great Plains … seems substantially cooler than 125F in Canada.

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#16
They have picture of Lytton that was destroyed by fire. Did anyone notice that the trees that were close to burnt houses still have green leaves? I know nothing about subject but it feels a bit strange how the leaves can survive when the houses are burning in such close proximity.

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#17

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

> In their study, the team of researchers says that the deadly heatwave was a one-in-a-1,000-year event.

Did you find a flaw in the researchers' reasoning? Or do you have knowledge they do not?

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The dust bowl heatwaves are not a good argument against the idea that human activity can have dramatic climate impacts in a short time, though.

You should probably give some sort of reasoning behind your comment else it's just the opinion of a random stranger.

Justify yourself.

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#19

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

A heatwave in Iowa and Wisconsin does not invalidate the statement that this heatwave in the Pacific NW / BC was once unthinkable and will now be common. Relevant quote from the article:

"According to the analysis, if the world warms by 2C, which could happen in about 20 years' time, then the chances of having a heatwave similar to last week's drop from around once every 1,000 years to roughly once every 5-10 years. "

Re: US-Canada heatwave 'virtually impossible' without warming

#20

Not only is it possible but the worst heat waves on record were experienced in the 1930s: https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_jul36

"Canada broke its temperature record for a third straight day on Tuesday - 49.6C (121.3F) in Lytton, British Columbia."

"All across the region, in the US states of Oregon and Washington and in the west of Canada, multiple cities hit new records far above 40C."

Not sure how you can point to 1936's records of 111F and say that was "worse" than 121F today.

Post reply on HN