Science Source

Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Martin Scherer, Robert J. Trapp

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Published date August 20, 2013

Robust increases in severe thunderstorm environments in response to greenhouse forcing

States that the response of thunderstorms to elevated greenhouse forcing has remained highly uncertain
Finds—using an ensemble of global climate model experiments—robust increases in the occurrence of severe thunderstorm environments over the eastern United States
Finds that simulated changes in the atmophseric environment also indicate an increase in the number of days supportive of convective hazards, suggesting a possible increase in the number of days that would support tornadic storms
States that these vulnerabilities imply increasing risk of thunderstorm-related damage if global warming continues