Science Source

Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective

Examines the causes of 12 extreme events that occurred on five continents and in the Arctic during 2012
Shows that the effects of natural weather and climate fluctuations played a key role in the intensity and evolution of the 2012 extreme events
Analyses for some events revealed compelling evidence that human-caused climate change, through the emission of heat-trapping gases, also contributed to the extreme event
Finds climate-change related increases in sea level have nearly doubled today’s annual probability of a Sandy-level flood recurrence as compared to 1950