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You will often read "Scientists say many extreme weather events are becoming more frequent or intense as a result of climate change". I say 'global warming', rather than 'climate change', because 'climate change' is driven by global warming and there is no denying 'global warming'. 'Climate Change' is more debateable, and includes other factors, like weather patterns and soil conditions..
Global warming and climate change
Global warming and climate change
These two terms are related but distinct, although often used interchangeably in discussions about environmental issues. However, they refer to different aspects of the same broader phenomenon. Global warming refers to the increase in temperature, and climate change refers to the wider set of changes occurring in the climate due to that warming.
Global Warming
Definition: Global warming specifically refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O).
Cause: The main driver of global warming is the enhanced greenhouse effect, where these gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to an overall warming of the planet.
GHGs are not the only drivers as land surface temperatures play a role too.
Focus: Global warming emphasizes the temperature rise aspect of environmental changes.
Climate Change
Definition: Climate change is a broader term that refers to long-term changes in the Earth's climate, including temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. It encompasses a wide range of changes in the climate system.
Cause: While global warming is a key contributor, climate change can also result from other factors such as natural processes (e.g., volcanic eruptions, solar radiation) and human activities beyond greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., deforestation, land use changes).
Focus: Climate change covers both warming and its broader effects on the climate system, such as more frequent extreme weather events (hurricanes, droughts, floods), shifts in ecosystems, and rising sea levels.
Relationship Between the Two:
Global warming drives climate change: The rise in global temperatures caused primarily by global warming leads to various climate-related impacts, such as altered weather patterns, more intense storms, droughts, and sea-level rise. This broader range of consequences is referred to as climate change.
Global warming is a subset of climate change: Global warming focuses on the increasing temperatures, whereas climate change includes all the effects that result from this warming, such as changes in precipitation, ice melt, and extreme weather.
There is another reason why 'the term 'Global Warming' is useful, as there is no denying it. It is measurable and going up faster than most of us thought.
With 'Climate Change', there is - and should be - room to debate about the multi-factors causing 'weather events' - without being accused of being a 'climate denier'.
Soil is the ‘Cinderella - overworked and overlooked- of ‘Climate Change” Climate change take in particular sets of circumstances usaully a mixture of the increased warmth driving a 'weather event' where here are many sets of circumstances, between the land - soil, air and water. There is always a relationship between the global environment and the soil, we just need to see how they interrelate much better. T Some floods may be exacerbated due to water running off because of poor soil, the drought because the soil has lost its organic water holding capacity and fires because too much water has been lost from the soil to keep trees moist. We need to look at them more.
In looking at weather events, we need to make sure everything is considered. In particular we should also consider water and soil. Let's add these to the events' equations.
Weather Events
Weather Events
The cause of 'weather events' is debatable. A key factor is the increased heat in the planet - higher temperatures in air, and even higher on land, and more heat in water.
Water
Most of the heat exchange on the planet is through water - 90%
Much of this is sea convections, but there is also a lot to do with water in the air.
Soil
Many weather events are also partly due to the state of soil in many areas. Many the fire I have seen I've shouted - but look at the state of the soil - all dried out! Better soil reduces floods and droughts
Hurricanes
Hurricanes
It is not so much that there are more hurricanes, but that they are getting stronger.
Let's add water. The stronger hurricanes are caused by heat in oceans fuelling them. Also, warm air holds more water, giving heavier rain and more flooding. Increased sea-levels give more coastal flooding when hurricanes create a temporary “storm surge” rise in sea level.
Floods
Floods
Floods seem to be more frequent round the world. As the atmosphere gets warmer, it can hold up to 7 percent more moisture for every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature.
As warmer temperatures cause more water to evaporate from the land and oceans, changes in the size and frequency of heavy precipitation events may in turn affect the size and frequency of river flooding. Floods have multiple aspects.
Let's consider role of Soil. Click to see runoff from arid land
Valencia
Valencia
A dreadful example of how 'climate change' and soil mixed to create Spain's deadliest flioods in a generation October 2024. Exceptionally weather (nearly 50cm of rain) that hit "parched soil in the hardest-hit areas compounded the problem after Spain endured two consecutive years of intense droughts. "
Dry and artificial soil
The parched soil in the hardest-hit areas compounded the problem after Spain endured two consecutive years of intense droughts. The ground could not absorb such a quantity of water, giving rise to flash flooding that raged through settlements.
The Valencia region is also covered with many areas where natural spaces have made way for impermeable concrete. This urban development is “uncontrolled and ill-adapted to the natural characteristics of the territory”, amplifying the danger of powerful storms, said Pablo Aznar of the Socioeconomic Observatory of Floods and Droughts.
Fires
Fires
Fires in America, S Europe and Australia are becoming commonplace, some burning up the carbon credits in forests. Hotter temperatures dry out the landscape, making it more likely for fires to occur. Extreme heat waves are five times more likely today than they were 150 years ago. During drought conditions, fuels for wildfire, such as grasses and trees, can dry out and become more flammable. Droughts can increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They can also make it harder for forests, grasslands, and shrublands to recover from fires.
Land-use changes
"and shifting populations are also compounding the impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean regions. In Greece, a combination of heatwaves, drought, and large plantations of highly flammable non-native species (like Eucalyptus) created ideal conditions for extreme wildfires in 2021 and 2023. In Europe more broadly, the abandonment of agricultural land in recent years has been followed by excessive vegetation growth that has increased fire risk". World Resources Institute
Droughts
Droughts
Throughout Africa drought is becoming the norm.
Linking 'climate change' with specific individual droughts can be difficult. The availability of water depends on more than just temperature and rainfall, with soil and natural weather systems also playing a key role.
Water
Another study on drought in Southern Africa said El Niño was to blame - rather than 'climate change'.
https://x.com/UniofReading/status/1557350976725581824
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