Euronews.green writes that since 1979, heatwaves started moving 20% slower, meaning that more people are feeling the effects for longer, as well as the fact that heat episodes form 67% more often than before.

Researchers also discovered that peak temperatures during heatwaves are higher than those recorded 40 years ago, while the areas covered by heat domes are also increasing in size.

Between 1979 and 1983, heatwaves were reported to last around eight days, but between 2016 and 2020, the average rose to 12 days, researchers discovered.

The Eurasia regions was hit with longer lasting heat waves, while in Africa, heatwaves slowed down the most. At the same time, the biggest magnitude increase was recorded in North America and Australia.

Researchers made computer-based simulations that showed the massive changes in the world's climate were mostly accelerated by the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal. Separate simulations lacking the greenhouse gas emissions also revealed that the worsening of heatwaves wouldn't have occurred.

It was discovered that the jet streams, atmospheric waves that move weather systems across the globe, also weakened over the past 45 years, leading to the slowed movement of the heatwaves.