If action on emissions is not significantly increased, unliveable weather conditions could become a regular occurrence in parts of the world
2016, a line of thunderstorms passed through the Australian state of Victoria. By the end of the following day, it had sent 3,000 people to hospital. Storms typically hurt people by blowing down buildings, flooding streets or setting fires. In this case, though, the casualties were caused by asthma. Late that afternoon a peculiarly powerful downdraft generated by the storm front pushed a layer of cold air thick with pollen, dust and other particles through Melbourne.
How damaging these impacts will be to the economic and physical welfare of humankind depends on how much warming takes place and how well people adapt—both of which are currently unknowable. But it is possible to get a qualitative sense of what they could mean by looking at the range of timescales over which they operate. At one end, a thunderstorm’s pollen surge, sweeping by in minutes; at the other, sea-level rise which could last longer than any civilisation in human history.
But more heat in the oceans means that those tropical cyclones which do get going are more likely to become intense. There is thus broad agreement among experts that the proportion of hurricanes which reach category four or five looks set to increase. So, too, does the rainfall associated with them, because warmer air holds more moisture. Studies of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey suggest that warming due to climate change increased its rainfall by about 15%.
In the nearer term, there is an increased likelihood of heatwaves. Between August 3rd and 16th 2003, Europe saw 39,000 more deaths than would have been expected on the basis of previous years. The excess mortality was due to a summer that was hotter, by some estimates, than any for the previous 500 years. Modelling suggests that, even in 2003, climate change had made such a heatwave at least twice as likely.
Unusual infernos have plagued California for many years now, again as a result of parched conditions, which are drying out rivers, lakes and underground aquifers across the entire south-west of the state. This is no regular drought. It is 19 years in the making, enough for it to be classed as a “megadrought”.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
USDA warns Asian gypsy moth could cause widespread damage to country's natural resourcesThe caterpillars of Asian gypsy moths can destroy large sections of forest. Sweetgum, apple, popular, oak, willow and linden trees are some of the plants that could be at risk.
Weiterlesen »
California's budget cuts threaten environmental spendingCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget cuts include canceling billions of dollars in climate change spending.
Weiterlesen »
USDA warns Asian gypsy moth could cause widespread damage to country's natural resourcesThe caterpillars of Asian gypsy moths can destroy large sections of forest. Sweetgum, apple, popular, oak, willow and linden trees are some of the plants that could be at risk.
Weiterlesen »
On A Tiny Chesapeake Bay Island, Fear That COVID-19 Could Deal It A Final BlowClimate change threatens to wipe isolated Tangier Island off the map. The coronavirus pandemic adds new peril to its existence.
Weiterlesen »
A metrics-obsessed White House struggles to define success on coronavirusWhite House officials are reluctant to specify how many dead Americans are too many, but Sen. Lindsey Graham offered a number: “The closer you can have it to 120 [thousand deaths], I think you can say you limited the casualties in this war.”
Weiterlesen »
11 Safety Tips for Anyone Who Needs to Move During the PandemicSometimes moving is necessary, even in a pandemic.
Weiterlesen »