The traditional carefree summer is becoming a thing of the past as extreme heat waves impact daily life. Climate change is causing record-breaking temperatures, melting Arctic ice, and driving droughts. The heat is so extreme in Asia that Japan has coined a new meteorological category for the danger: kokusho-bi, or “cruelly hot day.”

Adapting to the Heat

People are adapting to the heat by changing their daily routines. They are getting things done earlier in the day and staying up later at night. A full day at the beach or an August holiday in Europe is now more about risk management than relaxation. Advisories are urging tourists to limit outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and dog walking is becoming a dawn-or-dusk activity.

The heat is also affecting work hours, with agricultural and construction workers shifting to morning hours. Some employers are allowing employees to work from home when the heat becomes extreme. However, for those without air conditioning, home doesn’t offer much solace. Only about 4% of British homes have air conditioning, compared to about 90% of American homes.

A New Normal

The data suggests that the heat is not just a one-off event, but a new normal. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Americans are more likely to say extreme heat has had an impact on their travel or vacation plans, electricity bills, sleep, and outdoor activities. Research at Oxford University found that the intense heat influences daily behavior globally, with adaptations occurring in seven countries at risk of heat waves.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.