How we made it: sudden flips in temperature

April is known for unpredictable weather, encapsulated in the German saying “April, April — der macht was er will,” reflecting the phenomenon of “temperature whiplash,” which is becoming more frequent due to climate change. A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that over 60% of the world has experienced increased rapid temperature swings between warm and cold extremes from 1961 to 2023, with significant impacts expected to worsen under high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, particularly affecting low-income countries. The study indicates that the global population exposed to these temperature flips could more than double by the century’s end, leading to severe disruptions in ecosystems and human systems.