Global warming may lead to intense transformation in the climate, according to a government research report released on Thursday. Warning about the dire consequences of changing climate scientists said that in coming future droughts will get dryer, floods become deeper and storms will get harsher.
Heat may touch extremes in some areas, while others get lashed by heavy downpours and hurricanes, said the study, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“Changes in some weather and climate extremes are attributable to human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases,” the study authors said.
They further added that rarely occurring events may start hitting frequently. Thomas R. Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center, said for instance, by the end of this century rainfall amounts expected to occur every 20 years could be taking place every five years.
The report cautioned that preparing for weather different from what has been rather frequent can leave people vulnerable as extreme events occur more and more.
“Moderate flood control measures on a river can stimulate development in a now ‘safe’ floodplain, only to see those new structures damaged when a very large flood occurs,” the report said.
As the heavy rains are amplified, droughts will also become more frequent, Karl said.
“When it rains, it rains harder and when it’s not raining, it’s warmer — there is more evaporation, and droughts can last longer,” he explained.
The report is a blend of the latest research on extreme weather conditions in the U.S. Nearly six months of catastrophic conditions that saw a record number of tornadoes, unusual winter warmth and record-setting precipitation in many regions, raised concern among the citizens and the government.
“This report addresses one of the most frequently asked questions about global warming: What will happen to weather and climate extremes?” said Karl. Produced by the combination of findings of more than 100 academic papers, the report “concludes that we are now witnessing and will increasingly experience more extreme weather and climate events.”
Participants of the Climate Change Science Program include:
• Agency for International Development
• Department of Agriculture
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Department of Defense, Department of Energy
• National Institutes of Health, Department of State
• Department of Transportation
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Science Foundation and
• The Smithsonian Institution.
