Scientists from Nanjing University and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have concluded that the frequency and intensity of extreme temperature fluctuations are increasing daily, posing a direct threat to public health. These fluctuations are becoming more frequent and extreme in low and mid-latitude regions, and analysis of climate data indicates that the primary cause is greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities.
Climate projections indicate a worsening situation. Under a high-emissions scenario, the frequency of extreme fluctuations will increase by 17% and the overall intensity of fluctuations by 20% by 2100, affecting areas where more than 80% of the Earth's population lives.
Professor Xu Zhongfeng from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics explained that "global warming exacerbates drought and increases fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and soil moisture at sea level. These changes also reduce the Earth's surface heat capacity and affect cloud cover and solar radiation, ultimately leading to more extreme temperature variations between consecutive days."
These changes have a severe impact on health, as mortality data in China and the United States have revealed a strong correlation between daily temperature fluctuations and the risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Academician Fu Congbin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences emphasized: "This study classifies extreme daily temperature fluctuations as a unique and independent category of hazardous climatic phenomena. It is natural that global warming will exacerbate these temperature spikes in the world's most densely populated regions, creating a major problem for public health and environmental resilience. Therefore, we call on relevant international scientific organizations to officially recognize them as a new type of extreme weather phenomenon."
