2012’s extreme events – what role did climate change play?

Freya Roberts

Climate change made some of 2012’s most devastating extreme events more likely, a new report suggests.

A close inspection of 12 major events that occurred last year shows climate change influenced certain droughts, heat waves and flood events, as greenhouse gases continue to rise.

Others, however, were more likely the result of natural fluctuations in the climate.

Natural, manmade or both?

The new peer-reviewed report focuses specifically on 12 extreme events during 2012, including droughts, heatwaves, hurricanes, heavy rain, the loss of Arctic sea ice and cold snaps.

Produced by scientists from the Met Office and America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the report brings together the work of more than 70 scientists from 18 research groups worldwide.

Image - World2 (note)

It concludes that while events like these are a natural part of the climate system, on closer inspection, climate change made more than half of the 12 events indicated in the map above more likely.

‘Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective’, is available in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society – but for a quick and easy summary of the studies contained in the report, here’s what you need to know.

Extreme events – the highlights

Heat waves

Hurricanes

Drought

Sea Ice

Cold snaps

Heavy Rain

🗂️ back to the index