Hot weather to be 'more common', warns Portsmouth Uni scientist
Prof Mike Tipton says 'significant lifestyle changes' are likely to be necessary
A leading scientist at the University of Portsmouth is warning high temperatures are only becoming more common.
Professor Mike Tipton's warning came as temperatures reached over 30C across the South on Monday.
The Met Office said it was the hottest day of the year, with 34.8C recorded in Cambridge.
A yellow heat health alert remains in place until 9am on Wednesday, with elderly and vulnerable residents being urged to take extra care.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, extreme temperatures expert Prof Tipton said climate change was a huge factor in rising temperatures.
"The fact that this threat is creeping up, and is going to be just as dangerous in terms of survival as an immediate physical threat means people just haven't reacted as much," he said.
He added that "mitigation" was needed to prevent hot and extreme weather patterns in future.
"In this context it means lowering carbon dioxide production, which means very significant lifestyle changes."
Prof Tipton also said he was concerned about misinformation about medical treatments on social media, and said more teaching of "critical analytical thought" was needed in schools.
"More than ever before we're getting opinions and beliefs passed off as facts," he warned.