An analysis shows that large fractions of future generations will be exposed to extreme climate events that would occur only once every 10,000 years in the absence of global warming.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that each of the past ten years ranks among the ten hottest years recorded in nearly two centuries of observations. This anthropogenic climate change is driving not only an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, but also changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of such events. For instance, wildfires in Siberia and severe floods in Libya have both occurred in the past few years but were historically rare or absent. Extreme weather events are taking place earlier, later or more frequently in the year than in the past, their duration is increasing and historical seasonal patterns are being disrupted — storms, for example, are striking outside their usual seasons. Previously unprecedented events have become part of present-day reality.