The Source of Climate Disasters

Written by Claire Shi

What Are Climate Disasters?

Climate disasters are extreme natural events that cause widespread damage to the environment and human communities. Some examples of climate disasters are tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, heat waves, and droughts. As many people have already noticed, these climate disasters have significantly increased in their frequency and intensity over the past few decades. This is a result of our human actions driving environmental changes suitable for the development of such disasters.

Climate disasters have always existed as natural occurrences and some, like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, are geological and not related to climate nor human actions. However, the large majority of climate disasters are caused by climate change, and what is the source of climate change amplification? Human pollution.

Where Do Climate Disasters Come From?

Most of today’s climate disasters result from the underlying problem of global warming, that is, the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere and its oceans. Greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon gas emissions, trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise and weather patterns to become more and more unstable and intensified.

Let’s take a look at how these warmer temperatures specifically result in certain climate disasters:

• Tornadoes: Changing atmospheric conditions increase weather volatility, which influence tornado frequency and extremity.

• Hurricanes: Increasing ocean water temperatures have led to higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall, and more destructive strom surges. This, in turn, results in stronger and more frequent hurricanes.

• Wildfires: Droughts and hot, dry periods create ideal conditions for wildfires. Other human practices, like deforestation and urban expansion into these more fire-prone areas, also increase risk of wildfires.

• Floods: As polar ice and glaciers melt with increasing temperatures, sea water levels rise, resulting in increased flooding, especially in coastal areas.

• Heat Waves: These have become longer and more intense with increasing temperatures. Increased severity and frequency of heat waves also increase the likelihood of other related climate disasters.

• Droughts: Extended periods of heat and reduced rainfall dry out soil and vegetation, resulting in droughts. With higher temperatures, droughts have become more common and more severe in recent years.

What Should We Do?

Climate disasters are a prime example of the increasing destruction and imbalance of our environment. Now that us, human populations, are facing the consequences of our actions, maybe we will finally learn the impact of our everyday practices.

We cannot stop all natural disasters, but we can reduce their severity and frequency, hopefully preventing much progression in intensity. Here are some things we can start with:

• Reducing energy consumption

• Reduction water usage

• Reducing consumption & waste

• Supporting sustainable brands

• Using public transportation

• Reducing individual emissions

• Advocate for governmental and corporate change

  • Using renewable energy sources

  • Protecting the environment

  • Reducing deforestation

  • Using sustainable practices

  • Reducing factory emissions

    
    

And many more!