Flooding in Mantoloking following superstorm Sandy’s storm surge (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
Risks from storm surges, coastal and inland flooding and extreme precipitation are expected to rise in urban areas with climate change, according to a new report.
That’s just one of many sobering points in a report released this weekend.
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Changes in many extreme weather and climate events have been observed since around 1950, according to the Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Some of the changes have been linked to human influences. The changes include a decrease in cold temperature extremes, an increase in warm temperature extremes, an increase in extreme high sea levels and an increase in heavy precipitation events in a number of regions, according to the report.
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It’s likely that extreme sea levels – from storm surges, for example – have increased since 1970, the report says. That’s largely because the sea level has risen.
Other points in the IPCC report:
– It’s virtually certain that intense tropical cyclone activity has increased in the North Atlantic since 1970.
– The frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events has likely increased in North America.
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– Direct and insured losses from weather-related disasters have increased substantially in recent decades, both globally and regionally.
– It’s very likely that heat waves will take place more often and last longer. It’s also very likely that extreme precipitation events will become more intense and frequent in many regions. Moreover, the ocean will continue to warm and become more acidic and the global mean sea level will rise.
– In urban areas, there’s very high confidence that climate change is projected to increase risks for people, assets, economies and ecosystems. The risks include those from heat stress, storms and extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, air pollution, drought, water scarcity, sea-level rise and storm surges. The risks will be amplified for people lacking essential infrastructure and services, as well as for those living in exposed areas.
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– It’s virtually certain that global average sea-level rise will continue for many centuries beyond 2100.
What do you think should be done at the Jersey Shore and other vulnerable areas to cope with climate change impacts?
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Flooding along Barnegat Bay after Sandy (AP Photo/New Jersey Governor’s Office, Tim Larsen)
