Global Warming Effects on Extreme Weathers By: Christopher Chappell December 5, 2005 Global Change and Environmental Consequence

Global climate change is a change in the long- term weather patterns that characterize the regions of the world. The term "weather" refers to the short-term (daily) changes in temperature, wind, and/or precipitation of a region. Weather is influenced by the sun. The sun heats the earth's atmosphere and its surface causing air and water to move around the planet. The result can be as simple as a slight breeze or as complex as the formation of a tornado Global climate change is a change in the long- term weather patterns that characterize the regions of the world. The term "weather" refers to the short-term (daily) changes in temperature, wind, and/or precipitation of a region. Weather is influenced by the sun. The sun heats the earth's atmosphere and its surface causing air and water to move around the planet. The result can be as simple as a slight breeze or as complex as the formation of a tornado

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time in a specific place. Temperature, cloudiness, humidity, precipitation, and winds are examples of weather elements. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and monsoons are also part of the weather of some places during some seasons Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time in a specific place. Temperature, cloudiness, humidity, precipitation, and winds are examples of weather elements. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and monsoons are also part of the weather of some places during some seasons Climate is defined as long-term weather patterns that describe a region. For example, the New York metropolitan region’s climate is temperate, with rain evenly distributed throughout the year, cold winters, and hot summers. Climate is defined as long-term weather patterns that describe a region. For example, the New York metropolitan region’s climate is temperate, with rain evenly distributed throughout the year, cold winters, and hot summers.

Climate Change Climate change refers to the effect of human-induced increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect. Combustion of fossil fuels, cement production and land use changes have caused CO2 concentrations to increase. Climate change refers to the effect of human-induced increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect. Combustion of fossil fuels, cement production and land use changes have caused CO2 concentrations to increase.

Types of Events and Weathers Wildfire Wildfire Severe Storms Severe Storms Tornadoes Tornadoes Hurricanes Hurricanes Flooding Flooding

Severe Thunderstorms Severe thunderstorms are a hazard in many parts of the world. Our understanding of their distribution in space and time is limited by problems in our physical understanding of the processes, and in limitations of the observational databases. Given those limitations, the question of how, if at all, severe thunderstorms will change under climate change scenarios is difficult to answer.

Tornadoes Tornadoes are violent, whirling funnel-shaped windstorms that usually travel over land. When a tornado touches the ground, it can cause great destruction in its narrow path. Tornadoes are violent, whirling funnel-shaped windstorms that usually travel over land. When a tornado touches the ground, it can cause great destruction in its narrow path. Tornadoes occur when a warm, humid air mass meets with a cool, dry air mass. This collision sometimes results in a powerful, swirling column of air. The tornado's swirling winds can exceed 300 mph. Tornadoes cause much damage by this sheer force of wind, but they also have a strong updraft that can lift and carry objects. Fortunately, most tornadoes are relatively weak; only a few are devastating. Tornadoes occur when a warm, humid air mass meets with a cool, dry air mass. This collision sometimes results in a powerful, swirling column of air. The tornado's swirling winds can exceed 300 mph. Tornadoes cause much damage by this sheer force of wind, but they also have a strong updraft that can lift and carry objects. Fortunately, most tornadoes are relatively weak; only a few are devastating.

Weak Photograph by: MarshallMarshall

Strong Photograph by: NSSLNSSL

Violent Photograph by: NSSLNSSL

Radar animation of Katrina

NOAA Satellite Image Of KatrinaSatellite Image Of Katrina

Flooding High population densities are presently concentrated near the water’s edge at several locations throughout the region and coastal the populations are growing High population densities are presently concentrated near the water’s edge at several locations throughout the region and coastal the populations are growing Because of the highly developed nature of the coast within the region, a large population and considerable private property and public infrastructure are potentially at risk of hazardous events (i.e. inundation and flooding) associated with sea-level rise Because of the highly developed nature of the coast within the region, a large population and considerable private property and public infrastructure are potentially at risk of hazardous events (i.e. inundation and flooding) associated with sea-level rise

Flooding due to rise in sea level Historical Data GCM Projections 1900 – s2050s2080s Sea-level rise (inches) – 0.15 inches 4.3 – 11.7 in 6.9 – 23.7 in 9.5 – 42.5 in – 0.15 inches 10.9 – 29.7 cm 17.5 – 60.2 cm 24.1 – cm 100-year flood zone (feet) 9.7 feet 9.8 – 11.5 ft 10.1 – 12.4 ft 10.4 – 13.8 ft 3.0 meters3.0 – 3.5 m3.1 – 3.8 m3.2 – 4.2 m 100-year flood return (years) Once per 100 years 80 – 43 yrs68 – 19 yrs60 – 4 yrs

Adaptation or Mitigation The human response to global climate change and climate variability can be characterized in two ways: adaptation and mitigation. The human response to global climate change and climate variability can be characterized in two ways: adaptation and mitigation. Adaptation involves developing ways to protect people and places by reducing their vulnerability to climate impacts. Examples of adaptation include building seawalls or relocating buildings to higher ground to protect communities against increased flooding due to storms. Adaptation involves developing ways to protect people and places by reducing their vulnerability to climate impacts. Examples of adaptation include building seawalls or relocating buildings to higher ground to protect communities against increased flooding due to storms. Mitigation involves attempts to slow the process of global climate change by lowering the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Examples include such mechanisms as planting trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the soil or in their trunks and roots. Mitigation involves attempts to slow the process of global climate change by lowering the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Examples include such mechanisms as planting trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the soil or in their trunks and roots.

Adaptation A related problem is that focusing on adaptation to local impacts of climate change without attempting to reduce future changes to Earth's climate is not a responsible position for a city or region, a state, or a country. This is an issue of good governance and responsible stewardship of the Earth, not an issue that speaks to the self interest of local governments or even the nation. A related problem is that focusing on adaptation to local impacts of climate change without attempting to reduce future changes to Earth's climate is not a responsible position for a city or region, a state, or a country. This is an issue of good governance and responsible stewardship of the Earth, not an issue that speaks to the self interest of local governments or even the nation.

Benefits of Mitigation Improvements in local environmental quality Improvements in local environmental quality Improvements in local public health and well-being Improvements in local public health and well-being Stimulation of the local economy Stimulation of the local economy