Skip to content

Climate

WMO on extreme climate

by Colin Ricketts 17 Jul 2013
WMO on extreme climate

Hurricanes and other extreme events are damaging even the biggest economies. More than just the road closed when Katrina hit New Orleans; Hurricane Katrina damage image; Credit: © Shutterstock

Many factors affect our earth's climate these days. Measurement is vital as we unravel the puzzle of warming, and the patterns of ocean, atmosphere and external influence that we don't yet understand. The extremes with which we now cope need to be understood, otherwise it is back to the loony toons that we heard when global warming was first suggested.

Many recent extreme events would have occurred differently or not at all without our recent climate change. Heat-waves, and connected fires, with flooding are the most obvious events concerned, but many take place in parts of the world that we rarely hear from. We could all benefit from reading reports that deliver full details of what we suffer globally. In that way it will be possible to see what will happen in our individual areas, based on similar worldwide situations. There is as yet no clear trend globally in storm intensity or frequency.

What has happened is that the last decade has observations of more extreme types of event. If this is a trend, longer timeframes are required. The World Meteorological Organisation now present, The Global Climate 2001-2010: a decade of climate extremes.

The organisation's Commission for Climatology uses new techniques to address such assessment and monitoring, as well as using the ubiquitous climate models. Ice sheet melting is reported elsewhere, along with sea-level rise and coastal management programmes. Typhoon and hurricane measurements show various increases, in maximum winds and sheer activity.

NOAA-NCDC data from the US recorded the most active decade since 1855 in the N. Atlantic Basin. The year 2005 was one to remember, producing 27 storms, that including 7 major hurricanes. These have to be Category-3 or higher. In 2005, Category-5 Katrina, of course, will never be forgotten, until the next most severe hit! Cyclones elsewhere were often below-average in their activity, with few making landfall in the Pacific. The dreadful Philippine cyclone, Durian, badly affected millions in 2006. In contrast, Europe was affected by severe storms in 3 years of the decade.

Droughts are the most feared natural disaster and they made their horrifying mark in Australia, East Africa and the Amazon Basin throughout the decade. In a similar vein, flooding was much more frequent, in Thailand, Australia and elsewhere with much more calamitous results than normal worldwide. This probably combined with the recording of the wettest decade since 1901, apart from the 1950s.

Temperatures on the rise in every part of the earth easily increase evaporation and therefore the heavy rainfall. This doesn't mean that extreme cold had no effects. The whole Northern Hemisphere had one particularly dangerous spell from December 2009 to February 2010, joined by similar chilling deaths and agricultural disasters in Bolivia, Australia, North and South Africa and southern Asia.

The point of reports like this is that precious little is done. More and more study is needed to ensure that politicians have no excuse other than to identify the issues and act. "Events" are the key to pushing for change as they become more and more severe.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping