Rescued Weather Records Reveal Hot Days Became Twice As Common In Congo Basin
- Archival Data Rescue: Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University rescued fragile paper records from INERA and the State Archives of Belgium, preventing permanent loss after a nearby fire.
- Surging Hot Extremes: Analysis of the newly digitized records demonstrated that hot days have become nearly twice as common across the Congo Basin over a two-decade span.
- Heavy Rainfall Increase: Data from three historical weather stations indicated that the frequency of heavy rainfall events doubled during the 1980s compared to the 1960s.
The Context & Background
Central Africa has historically suffered from extreme data scarcity, preventing previous international assessments like the IPCC report from confirming local increases in hot extremes. This newly established open-access database fills critical knowledge gaps, offering essential baseline evidence to evaluate climate models and support regional adaptation strategies.
Why it matters:Filling critical data gaps in Central Africa is essential for understanding global climate change impacts in regions historically overlooked by researchers. This groundbreaking climate database empowers scientists to improve future weather projections and aids vulnerable communities in adapting to accelerating environmental extremes.
Original Sources & Coverage (1)
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