CHINA - WEATHER
China storms 'not climate change'
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Scientists say that snow storms in China are not directly linked to climate change but to extreme weather. However, they add that extreme weather is clearly becoming more frequent and intense with climate change
Thursday, January 31, 2008
By Reuters
SYDNEY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Snow storms in China that have
killed more than 60 people are not directly linked to climate
change, say scientists, but simply an extreme event caused by
very cold winter temperatures and a La Nina weather pattern.
killed more than 60 people are not directly linked to climate
change, say scientists, but simply an extreme event caused by
very cold winter temperatures and a La Nina weather pattern.
La Nina has brought moist air over southern China at a time
of very cold winter temperatures, resulting in heavy snow
falls, said Chinese weather experts.
of very cold winter temperatures, resulting in heavy snow
falls, said Chinese weather experts.
"This is mainly related to abnormal atmospheric circulation
and the La Nina event," Dong Wenjie of the National Climate
Centre told the official People's Daily.
and the La Nina event," Dong Wenjie of the National Climate
Centre told the official People's Daily.
"The National Climate Centre predicts that this La Nina
event will continue at least up to summer 2008 at a medium to
strong level," Dong said. "With climate warming, extreme
weather events are clearly increasing in frequency and
intensity."
event will continue at least up to summer 2008 at a medium to
strong level," Dong said. "With climate warming, extreme
weather events are clearly increasing in frequency and
intensity."
The worst snows in 50 years in southern China have hit as
tens of millions of people attempt to return home to celebrate
the Lunar New Year with families.
tens of millions of people attempt to return home to celebrate
the Lunar New Year with families.
Australian climate scientist Penny Whetton, one of the
authors of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) fourth assessment report, said the Chinese explanation
for the storms was valid, adding the bad weather was not linked
to climate change.
authors of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) fourth assessment report, said the Chinese explanation
for the storms was valid, adding the bad weather was not linked
to climate change.
"Those conditions are things that occur naturally and so
every few years, few decades, everything just comes together
right to produce an extreme event," said Whetton, who wrote the
IPCC chapter "Regional Climate Projections". The panel's four
reports were released last year in phases.
every few years, few decades, everything just comes together
right to produce an extreme event," said Whetton, who wrote the
IPCC chapter "Regional Climate Projections". The panel's four
reports were released last year in phases.
"My guess is this is a natural event without any particular
reason to link it to climate change. The climate change models
are not predicting increases in snow events like this," Whetton
told Reuters on Thursday.
reason to link it to climate change. The climate change models
are not predicting increases in snow events like this," Whetton
told Reuters on Thursday.
She said China could expect a less stable climate because
of global warming, with various regions experiencing drier,
wetter, hotter conditions, as well as more intense tropical
storms.
of global warming, with various regions experiencing drier,
wetter, hotter conditions, as well as more intense tropical
storms.
"Cold extremes are generally not predicted to become more
intense and frequent because we have a warming climate," she
said.
intense and frequent because we have a warming climate," she
said.
WORLD'S CLIMATE UNBALANCED
But as China warms, its cold northern regions might
experience more intense snow storms as moisture levels in the
atmosphere rise, creating similar conditions to those that have
caused the snow storms now in southern China.
experience more intense snow storms as moisture levels in the
atmosphere rise, creating similar conditions to those that have
caused the snow storms now in southern China.
"Snow will hang around for less but you will probably get
more heavy snow events in winter," said David Jones, head of
climate analysis at Australia's National Climate Centre.
more heavy snow events in winter," said David Jones, head of
climate analysis at Australia's National Climate Centre.
"We are seeing that in places like northern Canada, where
there's been almost a doubling of rain and snow in the last few
decades, and that's exactly what you expect cold polar desert
regions to become, a lot wetter in a warmer world."
there's been almost a doubling of rain and snow in the last few
decades, and that's exactly what you expect cold polar desert
regions to become, a lot wetter in a warmer world."
Jones also said China's snow storms could not be directly
linked to climate change, unlike floods, heat waves and fires
that are a result of rising world temperatures and rainfall.
linked to climate change, unlike floods, heat waves and fires
that are a result of rising world temperatures and rainfall.
"Winter is a time of year in the northern hemisphere where
you often get these extreme events. We have always had them and
we will always have them," he said.
you often get these extreme events. We have always had them and
we will always have them," he said.
One of the world's largest scientific bodies, the American
Geophysical Union, says the world's climate is now out of
balance and the rate of climate change is no longer natural.
Geophysical Union, says the world's climate is now out of
balance and the rate of climate change is no longer natural.
In its first revised climate change report since 2003, the
union said last week that the world's climate system was "now
changing at rates and in patterns that are not natural".
union said last week that the world's climate system was "now
changing at rates and in patterns that are not natural".
The AGU has a membership of 50,000 researchers, teachers
and students in 137 countries.
and students in 137 countries.
"Not only are we moving into a hotter world but a different
world," said Jones.
world," said Jones.
"You get more and more surprises as the world changes,
because you are moving into a world where the atmosphere and
climate just doesn't behave like it used to."
because you are moving into a world where the atmosphere and
climate just doesn't behave like it used to."
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