Tornado ❗️ Location: Montebello, CA, USA

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to a combination of natural variability and human-caused climate change.

Natural Variability:

🌊 El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO): This climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean can cause shifts in global weather patterns, leading to events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves.

🌡️ North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO): Variations in atmospheric pressure over the North Atlantic can influence weather in Europe and North America.

🎯 Climate Change:

🌬️ Increased Greenhouse Gases:

Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to a warming planet.

🌤️ Warmer Temperatures:

Rising temperatures increase evaporation, leading to more moisture in the atmosphere. This can result in heavier rainfall, increased flooding, and more intense storms.

🌀 Changes in Jet Stream:

The jet stream, a fast-flowing air current, is influenced by temperature differences. As the Arctic warms faster than other regions, the jet stream can become more erratic, leading to prolonged weather patterns like heatwaves or cold spells.

Specific Examples of Extreme Weather and Their Causes:

🌞 Heatwaves: Warmer temperatures due to climate change are increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves.

🌧️ Heavy Precipitation: Increased moisture in the atmosphere leads to more intense rainfall events and increased risk of flooding.

🌨️ Droughts: Changes in precipitation patterns and increased evaporation can lead to more frequent and severe droughts in some regions.

🔥 Wildfires: Warmer temperatures and drier conditions increase the risk of wildfires.

🌪️ Hurricanes: While the number of hurricanes may not increase, warmer ocean temperatures can lead to more intense storms with stronger winds and heavier rainfall.

It's important to note that while natural variability plays a role, the scientific consensus is that human-caused climate change is a major driver of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.