New index provides universal definition of a heat wave
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028385
Nature : In response to global warming, the Heat Wave Magnitude Index (HWMI) has been devised to provide a way to compare the severity of heat waves around the world and over time. Similar to the Richter scale for comparing the magnitude of earthquakes, the HWMI is designed to be more comprehensive than previous systems by taking into account heat intensity and duration in different regions and in different years. According to the new scale, the worst heat wave to date occurred in Russia during the summer of 2010 when 55 000 people died. The HWMI also predicts that the number and size of heat waves will continue to increase throughout the 21st century, a prediction consistent with earlier research.
