The planet’s been behaving erratically lately. Aside from the pandemic currently sweeping the globe, there have been wildfires and torrential rains in various parts of the world. Not to mention, the warming oceans and the sudden heat waves. According to experts, these unpredictable changes in the weather are all consistent with climate change. Since the continuous emissions of greenhouse gases are unlikely to decrease soon, we can expect more extreme weather conditions.
Although scientists have warned about such events, they were careful to attribute it all to climate change. But now, all of that is changing. New advances in a field known as “event attribution science” allows researchers to assess the role that climate change plays in any event. Particularly, those that relate to the weather.
Heat in Waves
The frequency and intensity of heatwaves all over is a clear example of the effect of climate change. Record temperatures in Siberia—with extreme heat drying out forests across the Russian tundra—leading to massive wildfires were immediately connected with climate change.
Links were also found in the heat waves that swept parts of Europe, Japan, and North America back in 2018. Just last month, the U.S. West Coast experienced a record high temperature of 54.4 Celsius in Death Valley. Hotter temperatures tend to sap the air of humidity. This then dries out forest and brush on land, creating perfect conditions for wildfires.
Rain and Flash Floods
The average global temperature has risen by 1C since pre-industrial times. This change—though seemingly small—has led to stronger storms. Hurricanes are getting stronger and moving slower. This is because hurricanes pick up energy from the oceans.
According to researchers at the University of Bristol in England, without decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, extreme hurricanes and rainfall in the Caribbean are more likely to occur.
In the USA, Hurricane Laura rose to a category 4 storm before it hit Louisiana, thanks to the warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Gov. John Bel Edwards, it was the most powerful hurricane to hit the state—even stronger than Hurricane Katrina.
Tropical cyclones from the Indian Ocean are showing similar behavior, too. The region is known as a hot spot for cyclones. In fact, some of the deadliest storms have appeared here.
In Africa, torrential rains and severe flooding have left thousands homeless due to flooding from the Nile River. Finally, the warming ocean temperatures are likely responsible for the heavy rainfall and flooding in China, as well.
