Barcelona Faces Up to 6°C Temperature Rise by Century's End, Study Warns
A study by a Barcelona-based institute warns of significant temperature increases in the city and its surrounding area. The research, focusing on heatwave episodes over the last three decades, projects substantial rises in temperature by mid and late century.
The study, conducted by an institute at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, found that under stable atmospheric conditions, temperatures could increase by up to 6°C by the end of the century. This is due to a rise in geopotential height at 500 hPa, indicating a more stable atmosphere prone to persistent heatwaves. The research also projects average maximum temperature increases of 4°C and minimum temperature increases of around 3.5°C in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area by the same period.
The study is the first to combine the pseudo-global warming approach with high-resolution urban simulations in Barcelona. It focuses on heatwave episodes in the area over the last 30 years (1991-2020) and projects them into the mid and late century. The findings highlight the importance of understanding future heatwaves, given that over half of the world's population lives in cities.
The study projects temperature increases of up to 6°C in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area under stable atmospheric conditions by the end of the century. Average maximum and minimum temperature increases of 4°C and 3.5°C, respectively, are also anticipated. These findings underscore the need for urban planning and adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of future heatwaves in the region.
