Sudden Swings in Temperature Hit Over 60% of Globe Since 1961, Study Warns of Escalation by 2100
A new global study has found that more than 60% of the planet has likely experienced abrupt “temperature flips” rapid shifts between extreme heat and cold since 1961, with their frequency and intensity projected to increase significantly by the end of the century due to climate change.
Published in Nature Communications, the research reveals how these sudden and intense weather swings unlike individual heatwaves or cold spells offer little time for humans, wildlife, and ecosystems to adapt. The impacts can be devastating, from health complications to crop failures and infrastructural stress.
One such flip occurred in April 2021 in Europe where temperatures fell dramatically after an unusually warm spell, damaging crops due to frost. These rapid transitions pose risks to both huma...