Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Mariangelica Groves is an assistant professor of geography at Weber State University, USA. Her research interests include paleoecology, paleoclimate, and fire in the American West.

• Preface1. Background and HistoryWhat Is Extreme Weather, and How Is It Connected to Climate Change?Paleoclimatology: Looking at the Past to Determine ExtremesThe Greenhouse Effect and the Earth’s Energy Budget-Global Warming as the Cause of Extreme Weather Events-Fossil Fuels: A Nifty Way to Re-use the Sun’s Energy-Greenhouse Gases: Global Warming Potential and Atmospheric Abundance-Increasing Ocean Heat and Its Role in Extreme Weather PromotionAttribution Studies: Modeling the Present to Pinpoint the Cause of Extreme Weather EventsExtreme Weather Resulting from Anthropogenic Climate Change-Fueled Beasts: Tropical Cyclones-Extreme Rainfall-Atmospheric Rivers-Extreme Drought-Increased Wildfires-Extreme Heatwaves-Extreme Cold SpellsRegions Susceptible to Climate Change and Extreme Weather EventsFurther Reading2. Problems, Controversies, and Solutions Problems-Blurring the Truth by Creating Doubt-Philosophical and Cultural Challenges-Psychological Impacts of Extreme Weather-International Efforts at Lowering Emissions Are Slow at BestControversies-The Poorest Nations with the Least Emissions Are Most Vulnerable-Class and Vulnerability -Assessing Loss and Damage-Nationally Determined Contributions -Mining for a New Industrial RevolutionSolutions-Reducing Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere-Enhancing Carbon Sinks-Social Science Solutions-Climate EngineeringFurther Reading3. PerspectivesCanadian Wildfires and Climate Change: Canada Is Burning!Tricia ClarksonCommunication Is a Climate Solution: Connecting the Dots between Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Priority ImpactsKaren FloriniExtreme Weather and Climate in the Late Little Ice AgeCary J. MockFlorida Coastal ResilienceCarrie ShumanA Climate Scientist’s Perspective on Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Extreme Event AttributionThomas KnutsonHuman Decisions Altering Wildfire CoursesSarah SayediClimate Change in ChinaXinying ChangExtreme Weather in Arusha, TanzaniaThomas Meng'oru Lai4. ProfilesIndividuals-Richard Alley (1957- )-Harold E. Brooks (1959- )-Kerry Emanuel (1955- )-António Guterres (1949- )-James Hansen (1941- )-Stephanie Herring -Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (1984-)-Charles Keeling (1928-2005)-Thomas Knutson-Joanne Simpson (1923-2010)-Peter Stott-Kevin Trenberth (1944- )Organizations-Berkeley Earth-Center for Climate and Energy Solutions-Climate Central-Climate Transparency-Columbia Climate School-Global Change Research Program-Iberdrola-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-Loss and Damage Collaboration-Met Office Hadley Center-NASA’s Global Climate Change, Vital Signs of the Planet-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association -United Nations Environment Program-World Meteorological Organization -World Weather Attribution -Yale Program for Climate Change CommunicationsFurther Reading5. Data and DocumentsData-Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index-Estimates of the Earth’s Annual and Global Mean Energy Balance-Extreme Weather Events in the United States, 1980-2024Documents-NOAA Atlantic Hurricanes and Climate Change Summary (2023)-“The Science of Extreme Event Attribution: How Climate Change Is Fueled by Severe Weather Events,” US Senate Committee Meeting on the Environment and Public Works (2023)6. ResourcesScience of Climate Change and Extreme WeatherSocietal, Political, and Regional Impacts of Extreme WeatherWebsites and Interactive ToolsDocumentaries and MediaPodcasts7. ChronologyGlossaryIndex

The succinct overviews of the science of climate change, issues preventing nations from reducing greenhouse gases, and specific incidents of extreme weather carry the book and make it a good choice for public libraries and undergraduate students.