An Introduction to Trends In Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Observations, Socio-economic Impacts, Terrestrial Ecological Impacts, and Model Projections

Gerald A. Meehl, Roger Pielke, Jr., Linda O. Mearns, Richard T. Sylves

National Center for Atmospheric Research

Thomas Karl, David R. Easterling, Pavel Ya. Groisman

National Climatic Data Center, U.S.A.

Stanley Changnon

Illinois State Water Survey, U.S.A.

David Changnon

Northern Illinois University, U.S.A.

Jenni Evans

Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A.

Thomas R. Knutson

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab., U.S.A.

Camille Parmesan

Univ. of Texas and U.C. Santa Barbara, U.S.A.

Roger Pulwarty

University of Colorado, U.S.A.

Terry Root

University of Michigan, U.S.A.

Roger B. Street

Atmospheric Environment Service, Canada

Richard T. Sylves

University of Deleware, U.S.A.

Peter Whetton

CSIRO, Australia

Francis Zwiers

CCCMA, Canada


Abstract

Climatic extremes can have serious and damaging effects on human society and infrastructure as well as on ecosystems and wildlife. Thus it is usually the main focus of attention of the news media in reports on climate. We have some indications from observations concerning how climatic extremes may have changed in the past, and, from climate models, how they could change in the future either due to natural climate fluctuations or under conditions of greenhouse gas-induced warming. These observed and modeled changes relate directly to our understanding of socio-economic and ecological impacts related to extremes.
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Hongjun Zhang: zhangho@ucar.edu