Mortality during heatwaves 2003-2015 in Frankfurt-Main - the 2003 heatwave and its implications

摘要

Heatwaves have always occurred, but they are expected to intensify in frequency, duration and intensity due to climate change. Germany (like most European countries) experienced a distinct heatwave in 2003. Afterwards local heat health action plans (HHAP) were implemented in numerous regions (for example in Hesse). This analysis was designed to compare the heat wave of 2003 with the following ones in 2006, 2010 and 2015. We discuss whether measures from the Hessian HHAP were effective in reducing mortality and identify specific characteristics of the 2003 heatwave which did not allow direct comparison.