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EXTREME WEATHER
EVENTS
source: http://climate.pembina.org/
science-overview
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No individual extreme weather event can be directly attributed to climate change. But evidence is piling up, as freak weather events are increasing both in number and intensity…
These disruptive events have their greatest impact in poor countries. The main recent weather extremes:- March 2005, Thailand: the worst drought in decades strikes 70 out of Thailand's 76 provinces, affecting 8.3 million people.
- February 2005, Greenland: the Southern coast experience record breaking temperatures, with 16°C even warmer than Greece.
- November 2004, Philippines: at least 400 people die after flash floods and landslides that devastate three coastal towns.
- August 2004, Alaska: wildfires have scorched over 5 million acres in Alaska. This year's fires are being driven by unusually hot and parched weather and plentiful lightning strikes. In a typical summer, 0.5-1.5 million Alaska acres burn down.
- August 2004, Guatemala: at least 4,000 families are at risk of severe food shortages as low rainfall has destroyed corn in at least four departments of this country.
- September 2004, Bangladesh: the heaviest rainfalls in 50 years cause the flooding of 100 villages southeast of the country's capital, leaving thousands of people homeless.
- August 2004, Italy: freak weather has caused the collapse of some of the most famous peaks in the Italian Dolomites. The erosion processhottest summer in 250 years.
- August 2004, China: 300,000 people are evacuated from southeastern coastal areas in Zhejiang province as the strongest typhoon in years roars towards the shore. In 1997, a similar typhoon killed nearly 250 people and caused $2.4bn in economic losses.
- July 2004, Bangladesh: the worst floods in 15 years hit the country, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving 10 million people homeless.
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