Calif. heatwaves said more intense

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SAN DIEGO, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- California heatwaves are changing due to global warming and could affect residents living near the ocean who are used to moderate temperatures, researchers say.

Climate scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, say the mid-summer heatwaves are getting stronger in generally cooler coastal areas.

"Heatwaves are stressful rare extremes defined relative to average temperatures," climate researcher Alexander Gershunov said.

"We've known for a while that humid heatwaves that are particularly hot at night are on the rise in California as the climate warms."

High humidity and the lingering of heat through the night is expected to place added stress on many of the more than 21 million Californians who live in coastal counties, the researchers said.

"This trend has important human health implications for coastal California where most of the state's population lives," study co-author Kristen Guirguis said.

"Coastal communities are acclimated to cooler mean temperatures and are not well-prepared for extreme heat either physiologically or technologically through air conditioning use."