Climate Extremes

Extreme events are the result of severe weather or climate conditions that impact communities, agricultural, and natural ecosystems. Climate based events occur over time, drought is a good example of a climate extreme where long-term drying can result in wildfires. Weather based extreme events are short-term events that can impact temperature due to heatwaves, and rainfall due to hurricanes and atmospheric rivers which can produce devastating results from flooding and storm surge. Climate change driven by atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations affects where and when an extreme event may occur, the intensity, and the frequency. Extreme weather and climate events are expected to increase over time.