Storms and Extreme Weather: The Impact of Climate Change (Videos)

Any particular storm is weather, not climate. That is, it is a discrete event, whereas climate is a decades-long pattern of such events. But the pattern is worrisome. A hotter atmosphere, which we are producing by dumping 5 billion metric tons of pollution from burning coal, gas and petroleum right into our earth’s atmosphere, produces more extreme weather events over time.

While it is uncontroversial that climate change will produce more frequent and more intense storms (hurricanes, cyclones), it is not clear what impact it will have on smaller weather events like tornadoes or hail storms.

Kudos to WXYZ Detroit for doing real science journalism on climate change and extreme weather! Pt. 1:

part 2:

part 3

The reporters helpfully warn that from here on out, our extreme weather season may lengthen . . .

For an informed discussion of climate change and public policy, see this Woodrow Wilson Center discussion: