Are Extreme Events, Like Heat Waves, Droughts or Floods, Expected to Change as the Earths Climate Changes?
“..in a warmer world, precipitation tends to be concentrated into more intense events, with longer periods of little precipitation in between. Therefore, intense and heavy downpours would be interspersed with longer relatively dry periods…” Yes; the type, frequency and intensity of extreme events are expected to change as Earths climate changes, and these changes could occur even with relatively small mean climate changes. Changes in some types of extreme events have already been observed, for example, increases in the frequency and intensity of heat waves and heavy precipitation events (see FAQ 3.3). In a warmer future climate, there will be an increased risk of more intense, more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves. The European heat wave of 2003 is an example of the type of extreme heat event lasting from several days to over a week that is likely to become more common in a warmer future climate. A related aspect of temperature extremes is that there is likely to be a decrease
Related Questions
- The worst floods in Pakistan for 80 years are surely yet another indication of the impact climate changes are having on our planet?
- Has there been a change in extreme events like heat waves, droughts, floods and hurricanes?
- Do extreme events such as heat waves and floods have anything to do with global warming?
