Articles tagged with Extreme Weather Events
A recent study found that large wildfires and severe heat events worsen air pollution across the western United States, affecting 68% of the region's population in one day. The study revealed an increasing trend in days with high levels of both particulate matter and ozone, tied to rising temperatures and wildfires.
In a new study, desert shrubs in the Southwest have increased their water use efficiency at unprecedented rates to survive a decades-long megadrought. The study found that despite this heroic increase, shrubs may not be adapting quickly enough to long-term drying trends in the West.
Researchers found that climate change is causing a compound effect of extreme events in the oceans, including heatwaves, acidity, and low oxygen levels. This combination can be fatal to marine species, especially those already living at the upper end of their optimal temperature range.
The Forest Condition Monitor tool uses color-coded visualization to identify areas of high-stress forests across Europe, allowing for targeted conservation efforts and research. Scientists can study these regions to understand eco-physiological processes and warn forest owners of potential risks.
A new analysis found that low-income households in New Orleans lost nearly 35% of their income after Hurricane Katrina, while high-income households in NYC lost only 5.8%. The study highlights the need for diversified income sources to mitigate economic harm from extreme weather events.
Persistent weather conditions are becoming more common in European summer, leading to prolonged heat waves and intense rainfall events. This trend is linked to increased hydro-climatic risks, especially for densely populated regions.
A new study found that extreme fire weather is being driven by a decrease in atmospheric humidity coupled with rising temperatures. This trend is linked to an increase in naturally occurring extreme fire events, spreading to new areas and burning more intensely than ever before.
Researchers are using X-ray CT to analyze magnetic minerals in speleothems, which can reveal past climate conditions. The team hopes to uncover evidence of extreme weather events and improve understanding of New Zealand's climate history.
A record-breaking summer of flooding in eastern Asia prompted an international team to research and submit findings on the event to a special journal issue. The studies highlighted unusual behavior of an anti-cyclone and its connection to the Indian Ocean's warming, leading to persistent extreme rainfall.
Researchers identified 'hotspots' for flash droughts globally, including regions with high agricultural production, and found that half of the contributing factor is a lack of rainfall and hot weather conditions. This study provides a foundation to build off and explore key questions regarding future trends of flash drought occurrence.
A new study has found that Greenland's ice sheet is experiencing increased frequency and intensity of extreme ice melting events, leading to a 21% rise in meltwater runoff over the past four decades. This raises global flood risk and disrupts marine ecosystems.
Research finds that overlapping weather extremes increase global economic losses by an average of 20% due to supply shortages and price increases. Richer economies are hit harder, with China experiencing above-average losses of over 27%.
New research from the University of Arizona suggests that a slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will intensify extreme cold weather in the US. The study found that without the AMOC, extremely cold winter weather would become more frequent and severe.
A study found that climate change increased the probability of heavy rainfall by 70% in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, leading to severe flooding, deaths, and massive damage. The extreme event caused over 90,000 people to be temporarily homeless and resulted in significant economic losses.
A new proposed scheme has been developed to seamlessly detect cutoff lows and preexisting troughs in a consistent and integrated manner. The scheme uses an automated numerical approach to extract the locations, intensities, and sizes of these features from snapshot upper tropospheric weather map data.
Researchers found that stronger hurricanes trap and transport more birds due to their intense winds and thunderstorms. The study used radar data from 33 Atlantic hurricanes between 2011 and 2020, revealing a correlation between hurricane intensity and the presence of birds within the eye.
The five-year project will focus on four themes: climate-informed planning, governance and collaborative capacity, extreme events, and climate justice. The program aims to help communities build resilience to climate-related challenges through research, tools, and knowledge.
The new Fengyun-3E satellite provides 100% global data coverage, with 11 instruments on board to observe cloud, radiation, and more. China joins Europe and the US in sharing a global responsibility for early morning orbit observations.
Research suggests that climate-caused disruptions to the jet stream's position and intensity could lead to severe weather-related consequences. The study's findings imply that continued warming could cause significant deviations from the norm, rendering the jet stream drastically different within a matter of decades.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered the physical mechanism behind icy plumes that precede severe thunderstorms and potentially deadly tornadoes. The study reveals a hydraulic jump phenomenon triggered by fluid obstacles in the atmosphere, leading to rapid water vapor injection into the stratosphere.
A new study shows that polar vortex disruptions most favorable for extreme US winter weather are increasing, with Arctic change likely contributing to the trend. The analysis demonstrates that a 'stretched' polar vortex state is more common and leads to severe winter weather.
A study published by Sandia National Laboratories reveals that older solar farms are more susceptible to extreme weather events, while snowstorms have the highest impact on electricity production. Machine learning analysis also found that low sunlight levels due to cloud cover and geographical features of the farm are significant factors.
A new study predicts extreme sea levels will become 100 times more frequent worldwide, with an annual occurrence by the end of the century. The research, led by Claudia Tebaldi, suggests rising temperatures will have a significant impact on coastal regions, particularly in the tropics and lower latitudes.
Researchers found extreme precipitation events are the primary contributor to total precipitation in Northwest China. The region's westerly and plateau zones have seen a significant increase in EPE frequency and occurrence, starting earlier and lasting later. In contrast, monsoon regions of Southeast China experience opposite trends.
Researchers found that bumblebee flight performance rises rapidly from 12°C and peaks between 25-27°C, but declines beyond this. This study suggests that climate warming may benefit some northern-latitude bee species, but poses risks to southern-latitude populations due to more frequent extreme weather events.
Researchers say surprise is a key factor in disastrous river floods, with improved flood warnings and protection measures contributing to declining casualties. Asia is the worst-hit region, with over 125 million people affected annually by such disasters.
Researchers studied record-breaking cold air outbreaks in China and North America, finding links to sudden stratospheric warming, polar vortex shifts, and anomalous ocean temperatures. The study suggests that global warming and ocean changes may drive extreme weather events, highlighting the need for further research.
A recent study found that greenhouse gases from human activity and warmer North Atlantic Ocean temperatures contributed to the Northeast's increased extreme precipitation since 1996. The research used global climate model simulations and statistical methods to isolate the causes of the increase.
Researchers found that high-impact weather events can be extreme, especially in context of human activities. Detailed hypothermia risk forecasts were not available for the race site, contributing to tragedy. The study highlights the need for improved warning systems and collaborations among scientists, governments, social media, and ci...
A University of Illinois study finds that US corn and soybean varieties have become more resilient to extreme heat and drought but less adapted to normal weather patterns, leading to reduced productivity. The researchers call for crop breeders to focus on developing crop varieties for diverse weather patterns.
Researchers used simulations to explore the fate of landfalling hurricanes, discovering that cold cores grow from the bottom of the hurricane as it decays. This unexpected finding could help forecasters predict extreme weather events and distinguish between decaying and re-intensifying storms.
Researchers found that individual bird species respond uniquely to extreme winter weather events, with some experiencing population changes after polar vortexes. Winter heat waves also led to increased bird abundance and occurrence in affected regions.
Researchers will use accurate weather forecasts to anticipate food shortages, poaching, and other threats to elephants, allowing conservation groups to take action weeks or months in advance. The project aims to reduce human-elephant conflict and help at-risk species withstand climate change.
A new study reveals that many UK farmers are not prioritizing adapting to the effects of climate change due to uncertainty and focus on short-term profitability. However, innovative practices such as improving soil health and adopting risk-spreading strategies can help build resilience within farming businesses.
The study found that sea surface temperature fluctuations in tropical Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans contribute to heavy rainfall events in China. Additionally, the Siberian High pressure system played a significant role in inducing cold surges during the winter of 2020/21.
A team of scientists found that ENSO-related climate variability is expected to increase under global warming due to the amplification of tropical lower tropospheric humidity. This intensification in ENSO-driven atmospheric variability suggests a higher risk of extreme weather events.
A global analysis reveals that breaking Rossby waves and intense moisture transport are two interconnected processes driving large-scale extreme precipitation events globally. These processes, especially in dry subtropical regions, can cause devastating catastrophic flooding and loss of life.
Researchers developed a framework to better predict extreme rainfall events in Mediterranean countries by analyzing weather data from 1979 to today. The study found strong relations between nine distinct atmospheric patterns and the location of extreme weather events.
Climate scientists have long known that human activities increase wildfire risk, but the specific roles and influences were unclear. A new study quantifies competing anthropogenic influences on extreme fire weather risk, revealing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions as a dominant contributor.
A recent study suggests that Palaeolithic humans migrated to the Ryukyu Islands via deliberate boat voyages, contrary to previous uncertainty. The findings indicate that humans deliberately crossed one of the world's strongest currents to reach these islands approximately 35,000 years ago.
A new study from Oregon State University found that natural disasters alone are not enough to motivate local communities to engage in climate change mitigation or adaptation. Policy change appears to depend on a combination of factors, including fatalities, media coverage, and community politics.
A study of 109 bird species across eastern North America over a 15-year period found that some birds are more resilient to climate change than others. The research, published in Global Change Biology, suggests that conservation efforts should target vulnerable species and locations predicted to experience extreme weather events.
Scientists predict a 54% increase in rainfall variability in California by the end of this century due to climate change. The study found that extreme weather patterns will become more frequent and intense, with significant impacts on agriculture, flood control, and water management.
New research suggests that the Arctic may impact Eurasian extreme weather events as quickly as two to three weeks, highlighting the need for more robust analysis techniques. The study aims to improve forecast accuracy by targeting specific observations and developing simulation experiments.
A new study by Stanford researchers finds that long-term warming and decreased autumn precipitation are increasing the risk of extreme fire weather conditions in California. The risk has more than doubled over the past four decades, with human-caused global warming making these conditions more likely.
A new Stanford study found that historical observations can lead to significant underestimates of extreme weather events by about half, particularly heat waves and heavy rainfall in Europe, East Asia, and the U.S. Climate models were more accurate in predicting future occurrence of record-setting events.
Researchers analyzed giant clam shell biogeochemical records from the South China Sea and found pulsed changes matched extreme weather events. The study suggests Tridacna shells could be used to record paleoweather patterns.
A new study by University of Exeter researchers has found that Arctic warming does not drive a more meandering jet stream, despite earlier studies suggesting a link between the two. The research suggests random fluctuations in the jet stream influencing Arctic temperatures may be behind any observed correlation.
The top ten list reveals Hurricane Harvey as the most extreme event, followed by Hurricane Sandy and deadly Hurricane Maria. The cost of all ten events totalled over $400bn, with devastating consequences including widespread flooding and injuries.
A new study from UC Davis warns that extreme weather risk is too often ignored in financial markets, putting investors at risk of severe losses. The research highlights the need for better climate risk assessment and pricing to mitigate potential economic consequences.
Rice University engineers developed a deep learning system that uses capsule neural networks to predict extreme weather events, such as heat waves and winter storms, with high accuracy. The system achieves 85% accuracy in five-day forecasts by identifying patterns in pressure systems and regional areas.
A recent study found that a reduction in air pollution in Europe has led to fewer extremely cold days, as the decrease in aerosol particles caused changes in the wintertime Northern Hemisphere polar jet stream. This suggests that aerosols have a stronger impact on extreme winter weather than greenhouse gases at regional scales.
Research reveals that cumulative flooding damage to earthen levees often goes unnoticed due to invisible signs of distress. The study highlights the need for prioritized rehabilitation efforts and accurate identification of high-risk levees.
Research finds that community reactions to extreme weather depend on political leanings and resources before the event. Discussion about climate change is more likely in Democratic-leaning communities or those with highly educated residents.
A new study finds that conservatives who report personal harm from extreme weather events, such as wildfires or floods, are more likely to support climate change mitigation policies. The study surveyed over 1,600 residents in communities affected by extreme weather events and found a significant link between reported harm and support f...
A team of researchers found that the last woolly mammoths on Wrangel Island survived for another 7,000 years without significant changes in their diet or environment. However, when they finally died out, it was due to extreme weather events and potentially human activity.
Researchers developed a more efficient statistical model to analyze extreme weather events globally, identifying regions with high precipitation levels and predicting their frequency. The model can handle vast amounts of data from multiple locations, providing valuable insights for disaster planning.
A recent study found that natural biodiversity can effectively buffer farmers' incomes against droughts and other weather-related shocks in tropical regions. Farmers in areas with greater biodiversity took less of an income hit from droughts compared to those with lower biodiversity.
A recent study by Duke University researchers found that how a community or neighborhood fares in an extreme storm or flood has a stronger and more lasting effect on climate beliefs than individual losses. Damage at the zip-code level was positively associated with stronger climate change beliefs even three or four years after the event.
A climate model has been developed that accurately depicts the winding course of the jet stream, a major air current over the Northern Hemisphere. The new model shows that climate change is causing the jet stream to falter, leading to extreme weather conditions in Central Europe and North America.