Human-caused climate change made a record-breaking heat wave in Atlantic Canada far more likely, federal climate scientists said Wednesday, as they released a new analysis of 10 of Canada's hottest heat events in July and August.

The results suggest the weeklong heat wave over Atlantic Canada was made at least 10 times more likely because of climate change. That was more than any of the others, said Environment and Climate Change Canada research scientist Nathan Gillett.

Figuring out how much human influence — largely from the burning of fossil fuels — is increasing the likelihood of dangerous weather extremes can help decisionmakers "better plan for, better respond to and better (rebuild) following weather emergencies," Gillett said.

"Heat waves are one of the most dangerous, if not th

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