During the summer of 2010, a severe heat wave in Russia reached temperatures of 108°F (42°C), leading to thousands of deaths and $15 billion in economic losses. Scientists have debated the role of global warming in this event. A study published on February 22, 2012, by a team from the University of Oxford revealed that while natural variability could cause such a heat wave, global warming has significantly increased its likelihood. They found that the chance of a similar event occurring has tripled since the 1960s—from once every 99 years to once every 33 years currently. The study emphasizes the urgent need to understand climate change’s impact on extreme weather events to better prepare society.
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