Climate models’ worst-case scenarios are not unrealistic, scientist says

The worst scenarios in climate models are not unrealistic, says bioclimatologist Michal Lehnert of Palacký University Olomouc.

Czechia has been dealing with extreme heat and prolonged drought this year, and the consequences remain visible. In an interview with iDNES.cz, Lehnert described ways cities could better cope with rising temperatures.

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The worst scenarios in climate models are not unrealistic.

Watering streets may seem like an obvious response, but Lehnert says it does little to cool urban areas. Trees and fountains integrated into paved spaces, by contrast, have a demonstrably beneficial effect.

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Watering streets does not have much of a cooling benefit, while trees or fountains in paved areas have a demonstrably positive effect.