As Time points out, there is no single scientific definition of a heat wave. Most countries use the term to describe periods of temperatures that are higher than historical and seasonal norms for a particular region. Seville’s new system categorizes these events into three tiers, with names reserved for the most serious and an escalating municipal response at each level. The city will designate future heatwaves in reverse alphabetical order, with Yago, Xenia, Wenceslao and Vega following. It’s a system similar to those that organizations like the US National Hurricane Center have used for decades to raise awareness of impending tropical storms, tornadoes and hurricanes. The idea is that people are more likely to take a threat seriously and act on it when it’s given a name. “This new method is intended to raise awareness of this deadly impact of climate change and ultimately save lives,” Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, the think tank that helped develop the Seville system. Naming heat waves might also help some people realize that we’re no longer dealing with occasional “freak” weather events: they’re the byproduct of a warming planet. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
