Twitter users feeling hot, hot, hot during heat waves according to study

A groundbreaking study on worldwide Twitter usage during heatwaves has uncovered the importance of utilising social media to disseminate information about extreme temperatures.

A recent study by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Pardeborn University in Germany explored the potential of social media, particularly Twitter, as a tool to gauge public sentiment toward heat waves and their corresponding responses.

A recent study analysed a total of 62,920 tweets posted during the period of January to April 2022. The study focused on a time when above-average temperatures were recorded in various parts of the world, including Asia, South America, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and Australia. A thorough search was conducted on Twitter using specific keywords such as 'heat wave', 'heat warning', and 'heatstroke'.

In a recent study, researchers delved into the topic of social media usage during periods of extreme heat. The study, which is one of the few of its kind, discovered that a significant 66% of tweets analysed were related to climate change and the occurrence of extreme heat and heat waves. During the discussion, health impacts were found to be the most significant concern, accounting for 20% of the topics discussed. Extreme weather and climate change followed closely behind, accounting for 17% of the discussion.

Read the full study. Here

According to Kerstin Zander, lead author and CDU Associate Professor from the Northern Institute, the study highlights the significance of utilising social media platforms to disseminate crucial information regarding extreme heat.

According to Associate Professor Zander, the analysis indicates that a considerable number of Twitter users are conscious of heat or heat waves, and social media can play a crucial role in spreading awareness about severe weather conditions and temperature fluctuations.

Twitter has become a popular platform for users to express their sentiments regarding the scorching heat. Additionally, some users have utilised Twitter to discuss strategies for managing and alleviating heat-related stress, albeit to a lesser degree.

According to data scientist and co-author Andy Nguyen, the study has revealed factors contributing to the likelihood of tweets being retweeted, such as timeliness and social networks. This information can be particularly useful for organisations that need to quickly disseminate information during emergency situations.

According to Associate Professor Zander, the study has revealed that users rely on Twitter accounts run by scientists, science organisations, and media corporations to obtain trustworthy information about climate change.

According to the source, there has been minimal fake news or account activity from users who spread false information regarding climate change and its correlation with heat on social media.

Individual scientists or scientific organisations held the majority of the most active accounts. According to recent findings, individuals tend to heavily depend on scientific data and established news sources in times of severe weather conditions. This indicates that such sources are not facing any competition from false or misleading information.

According to the data, tweets related to the heat wave did not prominently mention government emergency services.

A recent study titled "Responses to Heat Waves: What Can Twitter Data Tell Us?" has been conducted. The findings were recently published in the scientific journal Natural Hazards.

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