2025 began with extreme weather, including destructive wildfires and notable winter storms, while scientists noted 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded. Recent advances in climate science are enabling better connections between human-induced climate change and instances of extreme weather, with significant trends indicating fewer freezing days and an increase in heat waves in many areas, all attributed to rising global temperatures.
The onset of 2025 witnessed an array of extreme weather phenomena, including destructive wildfires in Southern California fueled by 100-mph winds, while severe winter storms impacted the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions of the United States. Concurrently, scientists have pointed out that 2024 became the hottest year recorded in human history, a stark reminder of the ongoing climate crisis. While not every anomalous weather occurrence is linked to climate change, advancements in climate science over the past decade enable researchers to establish connections between climate change and significant weather disasters such as heat waves and hurricanes.
Previously, climate scientists refrained from attributing individual weather events directly to human-induced climate change; however, current methodologies now allow for a clearer attribution. Dr. Justin Mankin, a climate scientist from Dartmouth College, asserts that the unwavering rise in global temperatures can now be identified in various extreme weather cases. “The trends in climate are shaping new weather possibilities that were maybe unprecedented,” Mankin observes.
It is crucial to differentiate between climate and weather. As Dr. Danielle Touma from the University of Texas at Austin elucidates, the climate can be viewed as a representation of the clothing one possesses for various seasons whereas daily weather influences one’s selection. Consequently, the commonly accepted definition of climate refers to the 30-year average of weather patterns, indicating that unusual weather does play a role, albeit less significantly, in these averages.
Human-driven climate change has resulted in a temperature rise of approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius since the mid-1800s, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels. This ongoing escalation in global temperatures contributes to subtle yet pervasive alterations in everyday weather conditions, even if such changes are not glaringly apparent. Dr. Deepti Singh from Washington State University remarks that, “Everything we’re experiencing, it is occurring in a different environment.”
Moreover, as Earth’s climate continues to evolve, fewer freezing days are now observed in many regions across the United States, with states like Michigan and Ohio experiencing a significant reduction in freezing days. Concurrently, the frequency of heat waves has more than tripled since the 1960s, suggesting a clear alteration of weather patterns driven by climate dynamics. The unprecedented 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest exemplified a scenario where climate change intensified the abnormal atmospheric conditions that initially enabled the event. Dr. Alex Hall from the University of California, Los Angeles, likens the current climate state to being put “on steroids,” as it occasionally leads to extreme weather events outside the traditional ranges of the atmosphere.
The tools of “detection” and “attribution” developed by scientists over the past decade allow for the examination of how weather events would have unfolded without human intervention in climate systems. Utilizing climate models, researchers can compare actual occurrences against hypothetical scenarios devoid of fossil fuel emissions. For instance, studies indicated that the rainfall from Hurricane Helene was 10% more intense due to climate change factors, with a 40% higher likelihood of occurrence.
In conclusion, while not all fluctuations in weather are directly attributable to climate change, discernible effects stem from the gradual rise in global temperatures. Increased temperatures correlate with less dramatic freezing conditions and a heightened incidence of heat waves, alongside other extreme weather patterns. Understanding these complex relationships is fundamental in addressing the reality of climate impacts on our immediate weather experiences and forging paths toward effective mitigation strategies.
The topic of how climate change influences weather patterns requires a basic understanding of the distinction between weather and climate. Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term trends and averages over decades. Over recent years, increased scientific scrutiny and advancements have established a clearer connection between human-induced climate change and extreme weather events. This evolving understanding has implications for both climate science and policy regarding how societies prepare for and react to extreme weather phenomena.
The exploration of the interplay between climate change and weather highlights that while individual weather events may not always be directly linked to climate change, the overarching influences of rising global temperatures are becoming increasingly clear. Rising temperatures have altered traditional weather patterns, resulting in fewer freezing days and increased frequency of heat waves. As scientists refine their methodologies for attribution and detection, our comprehension of the relationship between human activities and weather events deepens, underscoring the urgency for informed policies to mitigate these impacts.
Original Source: www.kanw.com
