WMO Reveals Unprecedented Climate Extremes in Last Decade: Droughts, Floods, Heatwaves

Climate change may be having more of an impact than we first thought. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced that the world suffered unprecedented climate extremes in the decade from 2001 to 2010.

In just these ten years, the Earth experienced major storms, drought and floods. There were heat weaves in Europe and Russia, Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., tropical cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, droughts in the Amazon basin, Australia and East Africa and floods in Pakistan, according to The Guardian. These extreme and dangerous weather events are making meteorologists stand up and take notice--especially since there's the possibility that they'll only increase in the future.

"Rising concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are changing our climate, with far-reaching implications for our environment and our oceans, which are absorbing both carbon dioxide and heat," said SMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud in a news release.

In addition to causing billions of dollars-worth of damages, these major weather events can also involve casualties. The new study by the WMO revealed that deaths from these events totaled 370,000 people, which is up 20 percent from the 1990s. This major leap was mainly caused by a heatwave in Europe in 2003, which killed an estimated 66,000 people. Another 55,000 people died in Russia in 2010 during another heatwave.

Besides the massive storms, though, there were other indications when it came to the changing climate. Sea levels rose about 3 mm per year, which is about double the observed 20^th century trend, according to BBC News. In addition, the warmer temperatures seen across the globe were actually present without the occurrence of El Niño, which typically warms the world. If El Niño had been present, though, it's likely that temperatures would have been driven even higher.

"On an annual basis, the global temperature curve is not a smooth one," said Jarraud in a news release. "On a long-term basis the underlying trend is clearly in an upward direction, more so in recent times."

The recent announcement highlights the importance of better understanding changing climactic conditions and preparing for them. Droughts, in particular, are cause for concern since they affect more people than any other kind of natural disaster and have a long duration. Yet by better preparing for these potential weather extremes, it's possible to help stave off the impacts of climate change.

The full report can be found online here.