According to the study, in conjunction with several universities such as Oxford and the UK National Meteorological Service, the total number of days above 50ú C (122F) has increased in each decade since 1980.

On average, between 1980 and 2009, temperatures passed 50C about 14 days a year, and the number rose to 26 days a year between 2010 and 2019.

Temperatures of 50C happen predominantly in the Middle East and Gulf regions. In addition, after record-breaking temperatures of 48.8C in Italy and 49.6C in Canada this summer, scientists have warned that days over 50C will occur elsewhere unless we cut fossil emissions.

‘With continued emissions and lack of action, not only will these extreme heat events become more severe and more frequent, but emergency response and recovery will become more challenging,’ warned Dr. Sihan Li, a climate researcher at the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford.

The BBC analysis also found that in the most recent decade, maximum temperatures increased by 0.5C compared with the long-term average from 1980 to 2009.

But these increases have not been felt equally around the world: Eastern Europe, southern Africa and Brazil saw some maximum temperatures rise by more than 1C, and parts of the Arctic and Middle East recorded increases of over 2C.

This BBC analysis launches a documentary series called ‘Life at 50C’ investigating how extreme heat is affecting lives across the world.

As many as 1.2 billion people around the world could face heat stress conditions by 2100 if current levels of global warming continue.

People are also facing difficult choices as the landscape around them changes, as extreme heat makes drought and wildfires more likely. While, other factors can contribute, climate change is also an important driving force behind desertification.

pgh/Pll/mem / cdg