Research Guide

Scholarly

IPCC, 2012: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 582 pp.

            Abstract: The IPPC Special Report on Managing the Risksof Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) goes in depth identifying the risks and relationships between climate change, extreme weather, and climate events. Extreme weather events and climate events can procure dangerous situations for society, sustainable development, and the environment. Exposure and vulnerability are a societal problem when talking about extreme weather and climate events. Specific areas around the world will suffer more than others due to climate extremes. Finally, the importance of managing the risk of disaster as well as adaptation to new climate extremes is an essential part when speaking about extreme events. .

Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events; Implications for Food Production, Plant Diseases, and Pests. Kluwer Academic Publishers (2001-12-01).A Rosenzweig, Cynthia, A Iglesias, Ana, A Yang, X.B., A Epstein, PaulR., A Chivian, Eric. P. 90-104

            Abstract: Climate change and extreme weather events: Implicatios for food production, plant diseases, and pests, is a journal that heavily focuses on climate change and extreme weather events and their effects on the environment. The variability of climate change is something that is hard to track because of its unpredictability. Next a focus becomes global warming and its trends while implementing weather extremes and their relationships. This relationship is important to understand as global warming effects weather extremes directly. One example of this is the specific climate event called El Nino-Southern Oscillation. Finally, weather extremes and their effect on crop yield, pests, and disease must not be overlooked as they are all crucial parts to our environment, human health, and food chain.

Trends in Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Issues Related to Modeling Extremes in Projections of Future Climate Change. Gerald A. Meehl, Francis Zwiers, Jenni Evans, Thomas Knutson, Linda Mearns, and Peter Whetton, 2000: Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 81, 427–436.

           

            Abstract: Trends in Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Issues Related Modeling Extremes in Projections of Future and Climate Change, is a document that focuses on explaining the knowledge of possible future changes in the statistical aspects of weather and climate extremes. Crucial topics regarding extreme weather and climate events include temperature, precipitation, extra tropical storms, El Nino-Southern Oscillation, and tropical cyclones. Each of these are effected in a particular way by climate change. This document also discusses their findings and research with other model studies of weather and climate extremes in a future climate and talks about their differences and similarities.

Smith, M. D. (2011). The ecological role of climate extremes: current understanding and future prospects. Journal Of Ecology, 99(3), 651-655. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01833.x

           

            Abstract: Ecological Consequences of Climate Extremes focuses on climate extremes and the consequences they can procure for ecological systems and human welfare. Global climate change is expected to increase in frequency and intensity, which directly correlates to extreme weather events. This is important because as climate changes extreme weather will increase and the effects could be deadly. Rarity of climate extremes as well as extreme climate events is also an issue because it makes it extremely difficult to predict trends. These two topics are contrasted and compared, all the while their relationship explained. This topic it is made clear that is hard to create trends for “rare” events because they do not happen often, however, these events are occurring more often.

           

Trenberth, Kevin E. Framing the way to relate climate extremes to climate change

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0441-5, Springer Netherlands, 2012-11-01, P 283-290

           

            Abstract: Framing the way to relate climate extremes to climate change is an article that focuses specifically on the relationship of climate extremes and anthropogenic climate change. A warmer climate due to climate change plays a direct role in climate extremes. This is shown by research within the article. Next, the ability to understand the role humans play in anthropogenic climate change is crucial in understanding how humans are affecting climate extremes. This is shown by the fact that anthropogenic climate change reflects the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which then directly is known to correlate to an increase in climate extremes. Lastly, it is important to be able to understand how some people view natural variability and how it can be used to mask climate extremes as well as their trends.

Non Scholarly

Kristie L. Ebi and Jordana K. Schmier Epidemiol Rev (July 2005). A Stitch in Time: Improving Public Health Early Warning Systems for Extreme Weather Events 27 (1): 115-121 doi:10.1093/epirev/mxi006

           

            Abstract: A Stitch in Time: Improving Public Health Early Warning Systems for Extreme Weather is a document that extenuates the relationship of extreme weather events and their relationship to public health. Recent trends show that extreme weather is costing countries all over the globe billions of dollars in damages each year. Each extreme weather event has the ability to not only cause damage but impact the health of a human beings as well as populations as a whole across the world. These facts lead to the conclusion that one solution that would enable humans to help defend themselves against extreme weather would be more accurate and timely forecasting by meteorologists everywhere. In conclusion the importance of accurate and timely forecasting by meteorologists as well as having proper response plan to extreme weather well better protect the human race across the globe.

Climate Extremes: Observations, Modeling, and Impacts. David R. Easterling, Gerald A. Meehl, Camille Parmesan, Stanley A. Changnon, Thomas R. Karl, and Linda O. Mearns Science 22 September 2000: 289 (5487), 20682074. [DOI:10.1126/science.289.5487.2068]

            Abstract: Climate Extremes: Observations, Modeling, and Impacts presents the major concern with a potential change in climate and the relationship with extreme events that could occur in future climates. Models show changes in extreme events for future climate. These changes are described as extreme high temperatures, decreases in extreme low temperatures, and increases in precipitation. In addition the society will be impacted negatively from climate extreme, as they will struggle with sensitivity to extreme weather. Plants and animals face extinction, and biological complexion will be altered due to climate change and extreme weather. 

Ecological Resilience to Coastal Disasters. W. Neil Adger, Terry P. Hughes, Carl Folke, Stephen R. Carpenter, and Johan Rockström. Science 12 August 2005: 309 (5737), 1036-1039. [DOI:10.1126/science.1112122]

            Abstract: This article articulates social and ecological vulnerability with respect to disaster and climate extremes. Vulnerability is by the amount of resilience exists before and after climate extremes occur. The amount of resilience procured by local, national, and international communities is of utmost importance when minimizing the consequences of climate extremes. Social and ecological systems must include diverse and resilient mechanisms to live and adapt to unexpected climate extremes.   

Extremes Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJfsjYfVNU

            Abstract: This video emphasizes that the best way to identify climate change is through climate extremes. It directly correlates an increase in climate extremes to an increase in climate change, specifically a change in temperature. There is evidence that as global temperature rises and more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere, climate extremes occur more often. In particular, heat waves will become more intense and heavy increases in precipitation.

Huber, D., & Gulledge, J. (2011, December 1). Extreme Weather and Climate Change | Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Retrieved November 8, 2015. http://www.c2es.org/publications/extreme-weather-and-climate-change

            Abstract: Thousands of Record-breaking climate events support long-term trends of increasing heat waves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and wildfires. These observed trends paired with the understanding of the climate system explicitly show that global warming is increasing the risk of extreme climate and weather events. Debates revolving around whether single weather events are caused by climate change are not logical but single weather events offer important information about social vulnerabilities to climate change. Reducing climate change requires a reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This cannot completely stop the future risk of climate change so implementing adaptive systems for societies is key.

Mathiesen, K. (2015, April 27). Extreme weather already on increase due to climate change, study finds. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/27/extreme-weather-already-on-increase-due-to-climate-change-study-finds

            Abstract: This article discusses how extreme weather has already started to increase due to climate change. Extreme heat waves and heavy precipitation are occurring more regularly around the world. In fact, extreme weather used to occur once every one thousand days and is now being recorded three to four times once every one thousand days. This is significant because nations around the globe and in specific areas are vulnerable to extreme events. Developed nations like the United States, UK, and others are able to cope with weather extremes, however, nations near the equator and in undeveloped are not able to cope with an increase in extreme weather and will suffer greatly if global temperature and an increase in extreme weather continues.

Zurich, E. (2015, March 27). Climate change does not cause extreme winters, new study shows. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://phys.org/news/2015-03-climate-extreme-winters.html

           

            Abstract: This journal is written in a climate skeptic’s perspective.  Its focus is on climate change and how it does not affect weather extremes. It states that climate change will cause temperature fluctuation to decrease. It explains how scientists claim that the different between temperatures at the poles and equator is getting smaller and that they are suggesting that one-day air masses from all directions will have the same direction and that this is an extreme theoretical approach. Finally, it talks about how weather extremes will become rarer due to less fluctuation in temperature.

Schwartz, J. (2015, November 5). Scientists Study Links Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/science/climate-change-extreme-weather-global-warming.html

            Abstract:  Scientists have found links that relate climate change and extreme weather.  It is made clear however, that each situation is unique and just because climate change may attribute to one kind of climate extreme such as heat waves, it may not directly relate to wildfires or drought. One statement that scientists were able to confidently make is, “Human-caused climate change greatly increased the likelihood and intensity. “ Predicting climate extremes is still difficult to do to, however, forecasting extreme events gives the world important information enabling it to plan responses and prepare for extreme weather events.

Rice, D. (2015, June 23). Extreme weather events linked to climate change, study says. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/06/22/extreme-weather-climate-change-global-warming/29124803/http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/06/22/extreme-weather-climate-change-global-warming/29124803/

            Abstract: This article discusses the answer to the question whether climate change extenuates extreme weather or not. The answer is yes. The burning of fossil fuels release Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (C02) into the atmosphere. This excess gas in the atmosphere is attributed to warming global temperatures as well as sea level rise.  This information comes from Kevin Trenberth, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Trenberth  also believes that human influenced climate change should has played a role in extreme weather events in the past, such as the Colorado floods and Super storm sandy.