New Research Links Climate Change to Likelihood, Severity of Extreme Weather Events
Australian Farmers among the first to respond
With wild weather happening across Australia this week, new research has shown the extent to which climate change can be linked to extreme weather events.
The research, published Thursday as a Special Supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, assesses the role of climate change in intensifying the severity and altering the likelihood of extreme weather events during 2014.
Findings included:
- The greater frequency or severity of extreme weather events, from droughts to floods and heat waves, are some of the most visible present day impacts of climate change.
- Individual events, like temperature extremes, can be linked to additional atmospheric greenhouse gases caused by human activities.
- Australian heat waves during 2014 were included among events which were much more likely to have occurred due to human influence on the climate.
Australian farmers who are on the front line of climate change are already experiencing the impacts of extreme weather on their land, and are increasingly concerned about the likelihood of these events continuing.
The Climate Media Centre can connect media with farmers around Australia who are available to talk about the impact of extreme weather on their land, livelihood and Australia’s food security.
Media: Contact Sarah on 0420 892 450 or sarah@climatemediacentre.org.