Articles | Volume 25, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3221-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3221-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Sep 2025
Research article |
| 10 Sep 2025
| 10 Sep 2025
Extreme heat and mortality in the state of Rio de Janeiro in November 2023: attribution to climate change and ENSO
Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Plaza de las Ciencias 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Instituto de Geociencias (IGEO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universidad Complutense de Madrid (CSIC–UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (FCEN, UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
David Barriopedro
Instituto de Geociencias (IGEO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universidad Complutense de Madrid (CSIC–UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Ricardo García-Herrera
Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Plaza de las Ciencias 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Instituto de Geociencias (IGEO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universidad Complutense de Madrid (CSIC–UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Santiago Beguería
Estación Experimental de Aula Dei–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEAD–CSIC), 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
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Short summary
In 2023, Rio de Janeiro experienced record-breaking heat waves linked to climate change and El Niño. Our study shows that global warming made these extreme temperatures at least 2 °C hotter than in pre-industrial times. Heat-related deaths surged, with climate change contributing to one in three fatalities during the peak event. Without adaptation, future heat waves will claim even more lives. This underscores the urgent need for policies to mitigate climate impacts from escalating heat threats.
In 2023, Rio de Janeiro experienced record-breaking heat waves linked to climate change and El...
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