Climate Change’s Evolving Role in Extreme Weather

In 2014, researchers were able to make firm connections between climate change and some extreme weather events, and have begun to include new types of weather in those attributions.  Those efforts are likely to gain steam in 2015, bringing the links between weather and climate into clearer focus.

The easiest parallel to draw between extreme weather and climate change has been, not surprisingly, heat.  That doesn’t mean just the sweaty, sticky summer days that send you gasping for air conditioning.  The overall warming of the atmosphere has made heat records more likely over the span of years, including 2014, both locally and globally.

Multiple independent efforts, including some led by Climate Central, found that both Australia’s record hot year in 2013 and Europe’s expected heat record in 2014 were made many times more likely by climate change.  As one researcher said, Australia’s record was virtually impossible without global warming.

Climate Change’s Evolving Role in Extreme Weather