Mediterranean Heat Wave Fueled by Climate Change

An international team of scientists has found that the early-season heat wave that hit parts of Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain last week would not have occurred without human-induced climate change. The region is already grappling with droughts, and extreme heat can set the stage for devastating wildfires. The global climate pattern known as El Niño is expected to materialize later this year, which, coming on top of the planet’s steady warming from the burning of fossil fuels, could lead to more record-breaking temperatures in many places this year.