Hurricanes
Large rotating storms that form over warm ocean waters and produce strong winds and heavy rain
What is a hurricane?
This factor can intensify drought even when precipitation levels don’t significantly change
What is increased temperature?
An accumulation of water or oversaturation of permeable land
What is a flood?
These are destructive and spread rapidly, destroying resources and nature
What is a wildfire?
Surfaces that do not soak up water during heavy rainfall
What are impermeable surfaces?
The rising ocean temperatures that provide extra energy and fuel for stronger hurricanes
What is warmer sea surface temperature?
Drought severity is often underestimated when this human influence is ignored
What is water consumption or water mismanagement?
Humans contributing to the likelihood of floods by
What is burning fossil fuels?
Due to the large amount of vegetation, wildfires mainly occur in these areas
What is rural areas?
Human produced emissions that contribute to extreme weather events
What are anthropogenic greenhouse gases?
Warmer air holds more of this, leading to heavier rainfall during hurricanes
What is water vapor (moisture)?
Climate change disrupts this Earth system, producing both droughts and flooding globally
What is the water cycle?
Creating concrete structures like this help reinforce land and prevent floods
What is a dam?
85% of wildfires are linked to this species
What is humans?
Canadian provinces where wildfires received major media attention
What are Alberta and Quebec?
This climate change effect allows storm surges to push farther inland during hurricanes
What is sea level rise?
This human land use practice reduces soil moisture retention and worsens drought conditions
What is deforestation?
These impacts go unnoticed due to the media’s capitalization on urban floods
What is agricultural impacts?
During low fire danger periods, burning is allowed at this time of day
What is all times of day?
Media focus on dramatic urban disasters often ignores these rural consequences
What are agricultural impacts?
Climate models predict an increase in these hurricane categories, even if total storm numbers don’t rise
What are Category 4 and 5 hurricanes?
Climate change alters precipitation patterns, but prolonged drought severity is mainly driven by this temperature-related process
What is increased evaporation from soil and water bodies?
Water flows into these low lying, adjacent areas
What is a flood plain?
Wildfires are commonly started by this type of lightning
What is hot lightning?
The overall scientific term describing how human activity alters Earth’s climate system
What is climate change (or anthropogenic climate change)?