Initial Publication Date: July 5, 2011

Extreme Weather

Part A: Wild Weather and Climate Variability

2016 Officially Hottest Year on Record

"NOAA and NASA analyses both indicate that 2016 was the hottest year on record globally. Combining the data sets from the two agencies indicates that the the average global temperature was 2.18°F (1.21°C) above a 1881-1910 baseline. Using this older period as a baseline gives a better indication of how much warming has taken place since the start of the industrial era." (Source: Climate Central, January 7, 2017).

In addition to record breaking temperatures, 2016 saw extreme weather around the globe. This extreme weather included record heat waves and brutal cold periods, severe droughts and devastating floods.

Scientists and citizens both wonder: What is causing the wild weather—is it climate change, El Niño, or just an unusual year? It is too early to reach a conclusion, but the question is a hot topic everywhere. In this lab, you will look into the relationship between the recent weather patterns, climate variability, and the changes in Earth's heat content.

Begin by watching this short video from NOAA (1:54 minutes) and answer the Checking In questions below.

Courtesy of StormCenter Communications and NOAA Climate Portal

Checking In

  • How have the past three decades compared to the average temperature on Earth for the past 100 years?
  • As the ocean gains heat, what happens to the humidity levels in the air? How might this change weather events?
  • How does a warmer Earth affect the weather?

Climate Variability

Both the daily weather and seasonal climate can change on multiple timescales. The variation from normal can last from minutes to years; we all can recall an unusually cold day, warm month, or rainy summer. Natural, cyclical variations occur within the climate system, the simplest of these is the seasonal variation that we experience every year. Additionally, even longer-term, large-scale patterns, called oscillations, exist in Earth's climate system. These oscillations take place over periods of time ranging from months to years—even decades. They can contribute to events of extreme weather such as droughts, floods, and storms. The most familiar of these patterns is probably the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Others include the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). All of these patterns oscillate, or swing, between positive and negative states and influence regional and global climate. They contribute to what is known as climate variability or the variations in climate around the average (mean) state of the climate on long-term timescales—beyond that of individual weather events. To view these patterns of climate variability, go to the Global Climate Dashboard page and click to sort by Natural Variability indicators.

Click the different graphs to explore different time frames. Note how the patterns swing above and below the line in a fairly regular pattern.

Checking In

  • What is the timescale of a typical El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?
  • How frequently does the Arctic Oscillation (AO) change from positive to negative as compared to ENSO?

Global Wild Weather

Since the year 2000, we have observed an increase in the frequency, scale (size), duration (length of time), and intensity of extreme weather events around the world. As you probably have seen in the news, these extreme events are devastating to societies in many parts of the globe. The physical impacts of these climate extremes range from local to national. They often impact one or more sectors of society including: agriculture, energy, transportation, water resources, or public health. They cause significant economic loss as well as fatalities.

Why are these events becoming more commonplace? According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), "While it is impossible to say that an individual weather or climate event was "caused" by climate change, one should anticipate that the magnitudes, frequency and duration of extreme events are likely to be altered as the Earth's atmosphere warms due to the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases." (Source: Weather Extremes in a Changing Climate: Hindsight on Foresight (Acrobat (PDF) 1.7MB Jul6 15), pg. 15, WMO 2011)

To learn more about how climate change may be fueling increased extreme weather events watch the video: What do Steroids in Baseball Have in Common with Climate Change? (Note: the video begins as a blank screen.)

Courtesy of National Center for Atmospheric Research

Extreme weather events close to home

Where are these extreme events taking place in the United States? Click the link below to view an interactive online map with more information PEW Extreme Weather Events Map.

Once on the map, use the zoom and pan tools to move around the map. Click on the balloons to read more about the events that have taken place in the U.S. When you are done viewing the map, close the page.

What can be done to minimize the risks of damage due to extreme events? In mid-November, 2011, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) issued a special report on managing the risks of extreme events. The report evaluates the role of climate change in altering the characteristics of the extreme weather events. Examples from the IPCC report are listed below.

Give a wild weather report

Choose one of the wild weather stories from the NOAA climate watch extreme weather events page. Read the article, take notes, and prepare to share the story with your lab team or class in a 2-minute presentation. Summarize the main points in the article and describe the impacts of these weather events on society and life in general. Include a map showing the location of the extreme event.

Finally, read and discuss the full article: Scientific American 2011 Wildest Year on Record. Use the information in the Scientific American article, as well as information gathered from the other resources linked to this page, to answer the Stop and Think questions below.

Stop and Think

  1. Why do scientists believe extremes of weather are becoming more common?
  2. What types of weather events are not yet clearly linked to climate change?
  3. Which extreme weather events are more likely to be influenced by climate variability, such as El Niño or La Niña?

Optional Extensions