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5 Big Questions About Extreme Weather

Weather-related disasters seem to be happening more often. Here’s what you need to know.

As You Read, Think About: According to scientists, how are humans affecting the global climate?

1. What’s the deal with all the wild weather lately? 

Woman holding her dog away from a wildfire.

 Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo

A woman holds her dog in Greece, where wildfires raged in August.

Around the world, people will remember 2021 for its wild weather. 

In August, Hurricane Ida slammed into New Orleans, Louisiana, with  heavy rains and winds of up to 150 miles per hour. It was one of the strongest storms to hit the area in more than 150 years.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest saw a record heat wave. In some cities, temperatures soared more than 30 degrees above normal. The heat and a drought in Western states helped spark wildfires that burned record amounts of land. 

Most climate scientists agree that these types of weather events can be linked to climate change. That’s the gradual change in Earth’s average temperature and weather patterns.

Let’s Talk About Climate Change
Watch a video to learn more about why the Earth’s temperature is rising.

2. Is extreme weather new?

No. There are records of deadly floods and dry spells that took place hundreds of years ago. But according to scientists, these events are becoming more common. Experts say this is largely due to rising global temperatures brought on by climate change. All seven of the warmest years on record were from 2014 to 2020. 

“We expect that if Earth warms up more, we will get more heat waves, more floods in many places, and faster droughts,” says scientist Richard Alley.

3. What causes climate change?

It’s a natural process that’s happened throughout history. But most scientists agree that human activity is playing a big role in the current warming trend. We depend on fossil fuels for most of our energy needs. Many power plants burn coal to create electricity. Cars and planes run on fuels made from oil. 

Burning fossil fuels releases what are called greenhouse gases. Experts say the increase of these gases in the atmosphere has led to a steady rise, over time, in Earth’s temperature.

4. So does that mean greenhouse gases are a bad thing?

Definitely not! In fact, without greenhouse gases, Earth would be too cold for humans, animals, and plants to survive. These gases, such as carbon dioxide, act like a blanket. They trap some of the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This process is called the greenhouse effect.

The Greenhouse Effect

Diagram of the greenhouse effect.
Illustration by Kate Francis
  1. Energy from the sun provides Earth with light and heat.
  2. Clouds and Earth’s surface reflect some of that energy back toward space.
  3. Greenhouse gases trap some of that reflected energy in the atmosphere. This warms the planet further.
  4. People burn fossil fuels, releasing more greenhouse gases into the air.
  5. Even more heat is trapped in the atmosphere. This causes temperatures on Earth to rise.

The Greenhouse Effect

Diagram of the greenhouse effect.
Illustration by Kate Francis
  1. Energy from the sun provides Earth with light and heat.
  2. Clouds and Earth’s surface reflect some of that energy back toward space.
  3. Greenhouse gases trap some of that reflected energy in the atmosphere. This warms the planet further.
  4. People burn fossil fuels, releasing more greenhouse gases into the air.
  5. Even more heat is trapped in the atmosphere. This causes temperatures on Earth to rise.

5. How can climate change cause both droughts AND floods?

Views of Lake Oroville during normal weather and a drought.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Lake Oroville, California, in 2017 (top); Lake Oroville during this summer’s drought (bottom)

As temperatures rise, more moisture evaporates from the land and seas. In some places, that extra moisture in the atmosphere leads to heavier rains and flooding. 

But the extra moisture isn’t spread around the world evenly. Some areas get less rainfall. That leads to longer, more severe droughts.

Scientists say reducing the amount of greenhouse gases we release could limit the effects of climate change.

“Our decisions will determine if this gets a lot worse,” Alley says. “We can build a better world.”

Close-Reading Questions

1. Why does the author mention the 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest?

2. According to most climate scientists, how are humans contributing to Earth’s current warming trend?

3. What is the greenhouse effect?

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