Apocalyptic Heatwave Hits the Middle East Leaving Climate Experts Worried

Scientists are worried that frequent and excruciating heat waves, which they claim result from human-induced climate change, will become so severe in the coming decades that several regions will become inhospitable.

Throughout the Middle East, the heat index, which refers to what a temperature feels like to humans due to humidity and other factors, reached a staggering 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to reports, the temperature at Iran’s Persian Gulf International Airport rose to 108 degrees Fahrenheit and a heat index of nearly 150 degrees.

Due to the scorching heat, government offices were forced to close in Ahvaz. Meteorologists working in Iran suggest that extreme weather and frequent heat waves are directly related to climate.

 “Most areas in Khuzestan, except for the eastern and northern highlands, will experience maximum temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius or higher until June 23,” Sabzezari added.

Already known for its hot desert climate, the government has issued safety warnings as temperatures soar into the triple digits nationwide, reaching a high of around 144 degrees on the heat index.

Due to the extreme humidity in regions such as Dubai, the air temperature can sometimes increase by up to 30 degrees.

Tragically, over 1,300 Muslims lost their lives during their annual pilgrimage to the Hajj, a direct result of the intense heat, according to Human Rights Watch.

“The results have important implications. The hotter it is, the more strain our bodies feel, and the more we need to sweat to cool down. But humid air has less capacity to hold additional moisture, so water evaporates more slowly in humid conditions,” wrote the researchers.

“Climate models tell us certain regions are likely to exceed those temperatures in the next 30 to 50 years. The most vulnerable areas include South Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea by around 2050,” they wrote.

Last year, the Persian Gulf region recorded a heat index of a staggering 158 degrees Fahrenheit, marking the hottest day ever recorded in the area.

Unfortunately, the areas most susceptible to increasing temperatures may become inhospitable over the next few decades, leaving scientists to call on governmental officials to take a stronger stance against the leading causes of rising global temperatures.

Unfortunately, the effects of extreme temperatures, including prolonged droughts and unpredictable weather events, continue to affect local communities.

“Climate change in the Middle East will amplify pre-existing vulnerabilities stemming from conflict, displacement, marginalization, and corruption while also creating new risks. Governments in the region will need to adopt more inclusive reforms as part of their climate adaptation strategies,” he said. 

Researchers warn that heat-related deaths could surge from around two per 100,000 people to over 120 per 100,000 if drastic action is not taken to reduce the effects of human-induced climate change.

If leaders continue on the ‘business-as-usual’ path and refuse to take action, certain regions of the Middle East may become inhospitable over the next few centuries. 

According to a recent report by scientists, the effects of human-induced climate change have left regions such as the southwest of the US, Mexico, and Central America over 35 times more likely to experience a heatwave, per the BBC.

While the group explains their preliminary findings, they cannot say with certainty how much climate change is influencing extreme weather, but they believe it is playing a significant role in rising temperatures.  

In its new report, WWA proposes that heat waves in the US are up to four times more likely than they were just two decades ago, citing planet-warming emissions as a major cause.

“The results of our study should be taken as another warning that our climate is heating to dangerous levels,” he said. 

He added, “As long as humans fill the atmosphere with fossil fuel emissions, the heat will only get worse – vulnerable people will continue to die, and the cost of living will continue to increase.”

According to the researchers, the hottest five-day stretch during June was up to 1.5C warmer due to climate change. 

“The additional 1.4C of heat caused by climate change would have been the difference between life and death for many people during May and June,” she added. 

The scientists take the data they collect and compare it to various Earth models, which show the effects of human-induced climate change. This allows them to identify the effects we’ve had on the planet.