Jane's Web Story: Weather

Extreme Weather: Blame It on Global Warming?

Today’s weather often has us wondering what’s going on up in the sky.

Over the years, we’ve come to expect waves of both heat and cold at abnormal times during the year. This March, conditions are just as odd as we predicted.

Warmer temperatures drove people to pools and beaches earlier this week. Some crops were even planted six weeks early.

But some farmers may have acted too soon. Now that temperatures in the North have dipped way below normal averages, growers will probably lose millions of dollars in planted seeds.

This is nothing new for the Northern Hemisphere. But people in other parts of the world are also feeling similar effects.

Cold spells may be chilling people across the U.S. right now, but Scotland is the hottest it’s ever been.

Scientists are still trying to figure out the cause.

What Do Scientists Think?

Some researchers are saying that global warming may be the culprit. Artic sea ice is melting because of greenhouse gases.

A U.N. environmental group released a report Wednesday. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change, global warming could cause:

1. An increase in heat waves
2. More periods of heavy rainfall
3. More regular coastal flooding 

How Extreme?

This irregular weather trend has been charted over time. U.S. government scientists recently reported:

1.  February was the 324th month in a row that world temperatures exceeded their long-term average for a given month
2.  February 1985: the last month with below-average temperatures
3. U.S.: more record highs are being set at weather stations than record low (indicates a warming climate) 

NOAA researcher Martin P. Hoerling also believes in global warming. But he thinks some analysts link specific weather events to human causes too quickly.

However, not all scientists point to global warming. University of Alabama climate scientist John R. Christy stated, “…extreme events of one type or another will occur somewhere on the planet every year.”

Whatever the cause of unpredictable weather, it could be a while before some people stop calling it “weather weirding.”