Mapping the Influence of Climate Change on Extreme Weather Events Around the World

Research has linked climate change to increasing extreme weather events globally, with Carbon Brief’s updated map of over 600 studies identifying that 74% of extreme events have been intensified due to climate change. This growing field emphasizes the urgent need for further research, particularly in underrepresented regions affected by climate disasters.

In 2004, researchers pioneered a groundbreaking study by quantifying human-induced climate change’s role in the European heatwave of 2003, which resulted in over 70,000 fatalities. This marked the initiation of extreme event attribution research, leading to critical examinations of how climate change influences extreme weather across the globe, from wildfires in the United States to droughts in South Africa. Carbon Brief now offers an updated interactive map detailing over 600 studies associated with nearly 750 extreme weather events. The findings reveal that 74% of these events have been exacerbated by climate change, with significant implications for global weather patterns and the increasing frequency and severity of extremes. Approximately 9% were found to be less likely or severe, while 10% registered no discernible human influence. The study encompasses diverse weather phenomena including heatwaves, rainfall, flooding, and drought, with notable cases like Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires and marine heatwaves demonstrating a clear link to anthropogenic climate change. Scientists utilize advanced climate models to establish the connection between extremes and climate change, enhancing the understanding of how human actions affect weather events. Moreover, the evolving field now addresses the immediate impacts of climate change through rapid studies conducted shortly after extreme events occur. Despite the overwhelming data linking climate change to extreme weather, it is essential to recognize the uneven distribution of attribution studies worldwide. A significant concentration exists in the global north, with regions such as Europe and North America being the most studied. This trend highlights the necessity for more comprehensive research in developing regions, where data may be scarce. A recent focus on China, which has witnessed several severe climate events, suggests that this imbalance may be slowly addressed, but efforts remain vital for inclusive global climate research.

The research on climate change and extreme weather began to notably evolve in 2004 with a pioneering study that precisely estimated the influence of human-induced climate change on an extreme event, specifically the 2003 heatwave in Europe. This spurred a new field known as extreme event attribution, which quantitatively assesses the extent to which climate change alters the frequency and intensity of various extreme weather phenomena. With increasing climate-related disasters globally, understanding these connections has become imperative for policymakers and scientists alike.

The exploration of how climate change impacts extreme weather has revealed crucial insights, with the majority of studies linking elevated risks and severities directly to human actions. As researchers continue to expand the scope and methodology of attribution science, the need for comprehensive studies in underrepresented regions remains critical to fostering a global understanding of climate change’s impacts. The Carbon Brief map serves as an invaluable resource in comprehending these complex relationships and driving future research efforts.

Original Source: www.carbonbrief.org