Khaberni - A study showed that the summer season has become longer and hotter at a faster pace than the previous estimates indicated; it begins earlier and continues for longer periods.
The research team from the University of British Columbia explained that the average duration of the summer season in areas located between the tropics and the polar circles has increased by approximately six days per decade during the period from 1990 to 2023, which exceeds the previous estimates that indicated an increase of four days per decade until the early 2000s.
The study results showed a striking disparity between cities; for instance, the number of summer days in Sydney, Australia, increased from about 80 days in 1990 to nearly 130 days currently, while the city of Toronto, Canada, records an increase estimated at eight additional days per decade.
The researchers based their definition of summer on actual temperature degrees and not on traditional astronomical divisions, where summer was defined as the number of days that exceeded historical temperature averages for each region, based on climate data reference from the period between 1961 and 1990.
The study pointed out that these rapid seasonal shifts carry potential implications for several vital sectors, notably agriculture, water supplies, public health, and energy networks, which were designed according to more stable seasonal patterns.
The scientific site "EurekAlert" quoted the study leader, researcher Ted Scott, saying that the results challenge the prevailing concept about the constancy of the seasonal cycles, warning that the acceleration of summer's onset could lead to environmental disturbances, including disruption of agricultural pollination patterns, accelerated snowmelt, and increased risks of spring flooding.
The study noted that the amount of "accumulated heat" during the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere is currently increasing more than threefold compared to the period between 1961 and 1990, with coastal regions recording the highest increase rates, which could affect millions of residents in those areas.
The researchers concluded that these findings raise urgent questions about the ability of current climate models to comprehend these accelerated changes and the need to update them to support future adaptation and planning policies.
