Extreme Heat

Heatwaves: Thermal Comfort Indices from ERA5 Reanalysis Dataset

Title: ERA5-HEAT: Human Thermal Comfort Analysis

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Analysis

The ERA5-HEAT dataset offers an extensive historical reconstruction of indices that represent human thermal stress and discomfort in outdoor conditions. This state-of-the-art bioclimatology data record includes two main variables: the Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). These indices are crucial in understanding how the human body responds to atmospheric conditions like air temperature, humidity, ventilation, and radiation.

The data, derived from the ERA5 reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Forecasts (ECMWF), merges model data with global observations. This combination provides a comprehensive and consistent description of the Earth’s climate from January 1940 to nearly real-time, with regular extensions as new ERA5 data become available. The dataset's global coverage (excluding Antarctica) and hourly temporal resolution make it an invaluable resource for researchers in climatology, urban planning, and public health.

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Visualization

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In the USA, recent summers have been ~1.5 °F (0.8 °C) warmer than 50 years ago.

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heatwaves in the past years

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Heatwave characteristics

Sample Data

Below is a snippet of the dataset:

Year	Location	MRT (K)	UTCI (K)
1940	Tokyo, Japan	...	...
1950	New York, USA	...	...
...	...	...	...

For full access to the dataset, please visit the following link: ERA5-HEAT Dataset