This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58073295
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 20 | Version 21 |
|---|---|
| How climate change worsens heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and floods | How climate change worsens heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and floods |
| (2 months later) | |
| More than 70 million people in the US are under heat alerts this week, with extreme temperatures as high as 105F (41C) forecast in some areas. | More than 70 million people in the US are under heat alerts this week, with extreme temperatures as high as 105F (41C) forecast in some areas. |
| Scientists say many extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. | Scientists say many extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. |
| 1. More extreme rain | 1. More extreme rain |
| For every 1C rise in average temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture, external. | For every 1C rise in average temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture, external. |
| This can result in more droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a smaller area. | This can result in more droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a smaller area. |
| Globally, heavy rainfall events have become more frequent and intense over most land regions due to human activity, according to the UN's climate body, the IPCC, external. | Globally, heavy rainfall events have become more frequent and intense over most land regions due to human activity, according to the UN's climate body, the IPCC, external. |
| It says this pattern will continue with further warming. | It says this pattern will continue with further warming. |
| Scientists assess whether individual extreme weather events can be attributed to climate change by considering both natural and human causes, external. | Scientists assess whether individual extreme weather events can be attributed to climate change by considering both natural and human causes, external. |
| In the case of the intense rainfall which fell in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman in April 2024, it was difficult to conclude exactly how much of a role climate change played. | In the case of the intense rainfall which fell in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman in April 2024, it was difficult to conclude exactly how much of a role climate change played. |
| Heavy rain in this region is rare, which offers researchers fewer historical comparisons. | Heavy rain in this region is rare, which offers researchers fewer historical comparisons. |
| But these types of events have become 10-40% heavier, and climate change is the most likely explanation, according to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group. | But these types of events have become 10-40% heavier, and climate change is the most likely explanation, according to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group. |
| In May 2024, southern Brazil experienced heavy rains which lead to widespread flooding, displacing about 150,000 people. | In May 2024, southern Brazil experienced heavy rains which lead to widespread flooding, displacing about 150,000 people. |
| The Rio Grande do Sul region that was hit is particularly vulnerable to heavy rains, as it is the meeting point of tropical and polar air masses. | The Rio Grande do Sul region that was hit is particularly vulnerable to heavy rains, as it is the meeting point of tropical and polar air masses. |
| But climate expert Francisco Eliseu Aquino told the AFP news agency that "these interactions [have] intensified with climate change". | But climate expert Francisco Eliseu Aquino told the AFP news agency that "these interactions [have] intensified with climate change". |
| The mayor of Derna in northern Libya suggested as many as 20,000 may have been killed as a result of the flooding | The mayor of Derna in northern Libya suggested as many as 20,000 may have been killed as a result of the flooding |
| The mayor of Derna in northern Libya suggested as many as 20,000 may have been killed as a result of the flooding | The mayor of Derna in northern Libya suggested as many as 20,000 may have been killed as a result of the flooding |
| Scientists believe the heavy rainfall which caused deadly flooding in northern Libya in September 2023 was made up to 50 times more likely by climate change. | Scientists believe the heavy rainfall which caused deadly flooding in northern Libya in September 2023 was made up to 50 times more likely by climate change. |
| Years of political instability in the region also hampered preparations for such events. | Years of political instability in the region also hampered preparations for such events. |
| 2. Hotter, longer heatwaves | 2. Hotter, longer heatwaves |
| Even a small increase in average temperatures makes a big difference to heat extremes. | Even a small increase in average temperatures makes a big difference to heat extremes. |
| As the range of daily temperatures shifts to warmer levels, hotter days are more likely and more intense. | As the range of daily temperatures shifts to warmer levels, hotter days are more likely and more intense. |
| In April 2024, temperatures in Mali hit 48.5C during an extreme heatwave across the Sahel region of Africa, which was linked to increased hospitalisations and deaths. | In April 2024, temperatures in Mali hit 48.5C during an extreme heatwave across the Sahel region of Africa, which was linked to increased hospitalisations and deaths. |
| This level of heat would not have been possible without human-caused climate change, the WWA found, and will become more common as the world continues to warm. | This level of heat would not have been possible without human-caused climate change, the WWA found, and will become more common as the world continues to warm. |
| In the UK, temperatures topped 40C for the first time on record in July 2022, causing extensive disruption. This would have been extremely unlikely without climate change, the WWA says. | In the UK, temperatures topped 40C for the first time on record in July 2022, causing extensive disruption. This would have been extremely unlikely without climate change, the WWA says. |
| Heatwaves are also becoming longer in many places, including the UK, external. | Heatwaves are also becoming longer in many places, including the UK, external. |
| This can happen as a result of heat domes, external, which are areas of high pressure where hot air is pushed down and trapped, causing temperatures to soar over large areas. | This can happen as a result of heat domes, external, which are areas of high pressure where hot air is pushed down and trapped, causing temperatures to soar over large areas. |
| One theory suggests that higher temperatures in the Arctic - which has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average, external - are causing strong winds called the jet stream to slow, increasing the likelihood of heat domes, external. | One theory suggests that higher temperatures in the Arctic - which has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average, external - are causing strong winds called the jet stream to slow, increasing the likelihood of heat domes, external. |
| A heat dome is expected to hit the western part of the US later this week - affecting more than 34 million residents across California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. | A heat dome is expected to hit the western part of the US later this week - affecting more than 34 million residents across California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. |
| Forecasters predict temperatures to be 5.5-11C (10-20F) above normal, potentially posing a risk to human health and the environment from resulting wildfires. | Forecasters predict temperatures to be 5.5-11C (10-20F) above normal, potentially posing a risk to human health and the environment from resulting wildfires. |
| Is the UK getting hotter? | Is the UK getting hotter? |
| Is the UK getting hotter? | Is the UK getting hotter? |
| Life at 50 degrees | Life at 50 degrees |
| Life at 50 degrees | Life at 50 degrees |
| 3. Longer droughts | 3. Longer droughts |
| Linking climate change with specific individual droughts can be difficult. | Linking climate change with specific individual droughts can be difficult. |
| The availability of water depends on more than just temperature and rainfall, with natural weather systems also playing a key role. This was the case with drought in southern Africa in early 2024. | The availability of water depends on more than just temperature and rainfall, with natural weather systems also playing a key role. This was the case with drought in southern Africa in early 2024. |
| But heatwaves fuelled by climate change can worsen droughts by drying out soil. This makes the air above warm up more quickly, leading to more intense heat. | But heatwaves fuelled by climate change can worsen droughts by drying out soil. This makes the air above warm up more quickly, leading to more intense heat. |
| During periods of hot weather, increased demand for water, especially from farmers, puts even more stress on the water supply. | During periods of hot weather, increased demand for water, especially from farmers, puts even more stress on the water supply. |
| In parts of East Africa, there were five failed rainy seasons, external in a row between 2020 and 2022, as the region suffered its worst drought for 40 years. This displaced 1.2 million people in Somalia, external alone. | In parts of East Africa, there were five failed rainy seasons, external in a row between 2020 and 2022, as the region suffered its worst drought for 40 years. This displaced 1.2 million people in Somalia, external alone. |
| Climate change has made droughts like this at least 100 times more likely, external, according to the WWA. | Climate change has made droughts like this at least 100 times more likely, external, according to the WWA. |
| Human-caused warming was also the main driver of the Amazon rainforest's worst drought in at least half a century in the second half of 2023. | Human-caused warming was also the main driver of the Amazon rainforest's worst drought in at least half a century in the second half of 2023. |
| 4. More fuel for wildfires | 4. More fuel for wildfires |
| Fires happen naturally in many parts of the world, external. It's difficult to know if climate change has caused or worsened a specific wildfire because other factors are also relevant, such as changing land use. | Fires happen naturally in many parts of the world, external. It's difficult to know if climate change has caused or worsened a specific wildfire because other factors are also relevant, such as changing land use. |
| But climate change is making the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread more likely, the IPCC says, external. | But climate change is making the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread more likely, the IPCC says, external. |
| Extreme, long-lasting heat draws more moisture out of soils and vegetation. | Extreme, long-lasting heat draws more moisture out of soils and vegetation. |
| These tinder-dry conditions provide fuel for fires, which can spread at an incredible speed, particularly if winds are strong. | These tinder-dry conditions provide fuel for fires, which can spread at an incredible speed, particularly if winds are strong. |
| Canada experienced by far its its worst wildfire season on record in 2023. | Canada experienced by far its its worst wildfire season on record in 2023. |
| Canada experienced by far its worst wildfire year on record in 2023 | Canada experienced by far its worst wildfire year on record in 2023 |
| Canada experienced by far its worst wildfire year on record in 2023 | Canada experienced by far its worst wildfire year on record in 2023 |
| Climate change more than doubled the likelihood of the extreme "fire weather" conditions in eastern Canada in May and June 2023, which helped fires to spread, the WWA says, external. | Climate change more than doubled the likelihood of the extreme "fire weather" conditions in eastern Canada in May and June 2023, which helped fires to spread, the WWA says, external. |
| Rising temperatures may also increase the likelihood of lightning in the world's northernmost forests, triggering fires. | Rising temperatures may also increase the likelihood of lightning in the world's northernmost forests, triggering fires. |
| The combined effects of shifting land use and climate change mean extreme wildfires are projected to become more frequent and intense in future, external globally, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). | The combined effects of shifting land use and climate change mean extreme wildfires are projected to become more frequent and intense in future, external globally, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). |
| The number of the most extreme fires may rise by up to 50% by 2100, UNEP suggests. | The number of the most extreme fires may rise by up to 50% by 2100, UNEP suggests. |
| How do wildfires start? | How do wildfires start? |
| How do wildfires start? | How do wildfires start? |
| Related topics | |
| Floods | Floods |
| Drought | Drought |
| Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| Wildfires | Wildfires |
| COP28 | COP28 |
| UK heatwaves | UK heatwaves |
| Climate | Climate |
| Severe weather | Severe weather |
| Heatwaves | Heatwaves |