Scientists have identified the recent Mediterranean storm that caused devastating flooding along the Libyan coast as an extreme weather event with clear links to climate change. While it’s challenging to attribute a single weather event to climate change, there are certain factors at play that make events like this more likely.
Medicanes, which are Mediterranean hurricanes, occur roughly once or twice a year, primarily between September and January. Although they are not true hurricanes in most cases, they can occasionally reach hurricane strength. In the case of the recent storm named Daniel, it started as a low-pressure system over a week ago and was hindered by a high-pressure system. This caused exceptionally heavy rainfall in Greece and the surrounding areas before moving on to inundate Libya.
One of the key concerns related to climate change is the warming of ocean waters. This phenomenon contributes to cyclones moving at a slower pace, which in turn leads to the excessive dumping of rain. Raghu Murtugudde, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and an emeritus professor at the University of Maryland, supports this view.
The severity of the storm and its tragic consequences serve as a reminder of the need for continued research and action on climate change. While attributing an individual event solely to climate change can be complex, the patterns and evidence clearly indicate that these types of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. The global community must take these findings seriously and work together to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The Impact of Human Activity and Climate Change on Severe Storms
What’s more, human activity and climate change are now working hand in hand to produce compound effects in storms and land use. Recent incidents of flooding in Greece and Libya serve as poignant examples of the devastating consequences.
In Greece, the severity of the flooding was exacerbated by a combination of factors including wildfires, loss of vegetation, and loose soil. Similarly, in Libya, poorly maintained infrastructure worsened the catastrophic flooding.
Tragically, outside the city of Derna in Libya, dams that collapsed unleashed flash floods that may have resulted in thousands of deaths. Search efforts have revealed hundreds of bodies and there are reports of 10,000 people still missing. Entire neighborhoods of the city were washed away as floodwaters surged through.
While these destructive storms are becoming more frequent globally, one phenomenon stands out. The warm water that intensified storm Daniel and contributed to the exceptional rainfall is being observed in various locations worldwide. Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, emphasized this fact.
According to Francis, no region is immune to devastating storms like Daniel. Recent flooding incidents in Massachusetts, Greece, Hong Kong, Duluth, and other areas are clear demonstrations of this reality.
Although scientists have not yet conducted a thorough study on storm Daniel, Karsten Haustein, a climate scientist and meteorologist at Leipzig University in Germany, raised an important point. He noted that the Mediterranean has experienced temperatures 2 to 3 degrees Celsius higher this year compared to the past. While the weather patterns that formed storm Daniel would have occurred regardless of climate change, the consequences would likely have been less severe.
Haustein explained that in a cooler world, storm Daniel probably wouldn’t have developed as rapidly nor hit Libya with such devastating force.
In conclusion, it is crucial to acknowledge the immense influence that human activity and climate change have on severe storms. The devastation witnessed in Greece and Libya is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address these issues and strive for a more sustainable and resilient future.