April 28, 2015
A new study from the Nature Climate Change journal blames mankind for some of the earth's extreme weather lately.
The study states that 75 percent of all "daily hot extremes" could be attributed to the planet's warming. Also, 18 percent of "daily precipitation extremes" could be linked to climate change.
It goes on to predict that both of those numbers could increase significantly if the current trends continue. Of those cases of extreme heat and precipitation, the most extreme events were most often anthropogenic, or relating or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature.
The authors, Dr. E.M. Fischer and professor Reto Knutti from the Swiss university ETH Zurich, note that the most extreme events are the most likely to have the largest impacts on humans.
The study's methodology prevents linking specific weather events to human causes, however, the authors explain that their model shows consistent patterns connecting warming and extreme weather. They also claim that increased warming makes extreme events more likely to occur.
Read the study here.
