Climate change is resulting in weather extremes that are affecting millions of people around the world in recent times. The article by Thomson Reuters (2022) published in CBC News describes how extreme weather events such as heat waves or rainfalls are a consequence of climate change. In addition, the author cites data from recent studies by climatologists who have been observing transformations that have taken place over the past decade. The main thesis of the article is that climate change is the cause of many abrupt weather changes, which will only get worse in the future.
Currently, people are facing manifestations of climate change all around the globe. Moreover, they become more pronounced and devastating from year to year. In particular, before reading the article, I knew that climate change results in extreme weather conditions. However, I thought that this refers exclusively to the abnormal heat that people in various parts of the planet have been observing every summer for the past few years. As many people, I personally experienced extreme heat this summer, which was difficult to endure. I also heard from the news about a lot of new waters in different parts of the planet, a drought due to a heat wave, as well as hurricanes and storms. I would like to know how climate change affects the weather in different parts of the world. I also wonder if there is a possibility that these climate changes are the result of natural rather than anthropogenic processes.
The main research method of this topic is observation. In particular, Reuters (2022) cites research data that is based on the collection and analysis of data on weather conditions over the past 20 years. Additionally, the researchers use data from earlier climate studies and compare them to the present. Evidence is being collected through meteorological observations and the recording of extreme weather events. However, it notes “there are also large data gaps in many low and middle-income countries, making it harder to understand what’s happening in those regions” (Reuters, 2022). These regions, such as Africa, are the most affected by climate change due to their location. Thus, the existing data may not be enough to fully consider the issue and search for relevant correlations.
Fundamental Questions
Fundamental questions to be addressed as part of the consideration of the topic include:
- What extreme weather events have intensified in the last 20 years?
- Which regions of the world are most affected by extreme weather conditions?
- What manifestations of extreme weather conditions have characterized the most affected regions in the past?
- Are extreme weather events a result of climate change?
The research hypothesis is that climate change results in extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods, wildfires, droughts, and others.
My opinion and assumptions can have a significant impact on the formation of the proposed research hypothesis. Although I have personally experienced extreme weather events in the form of heat waves in the summer, as well as multiple wildfires, I am not sure that I do not have a bias. In particular, recently climate change has been a topic of constant discussion, which is reflected in the media agenda. In this situation, I may mistake the heightened public concern for this issue as my personal experience. In particular, researchers now have access to more data than ever before. It is possible that similar extreme weather events have existed in the past, but they were poorly documented due to underdeveloped methods. Additionally, the public now has access to a constant stream of information, which is increasing the number of reports of extreme weather. This circumstance may also influence the fact that I perceive the current changes as significant. This hypothesis is partly a reflection of my personal judgment that climate change obviously leads to major weather transformations.
Major Developments in Study of Climate Change
The main change in the study of this topic is the expansion of methods for collecting and analyzing climate data. First of all, scientists have access to data from decades of previous research, which can become the basis for the development of science. For example, Alimonti et al. (2022) use recent research to determine the intensity of extreme climate events. In this case, climate studies are carried out on an extremely wide range of data from early parts of the planet, which greatly improves the quality of observations. In addition, Fazel-Rastgar (2020) used a variety of meteorological data in studies of extreme floods in Iran in 2019, which include both short-term and long-term observations of various weather-related indicators. The researcher was able to thoroughly consider every factor that has a potential impact on the occurrence of floods, which would have been impossible before due to lack of data. At the moment, scientists have access to the widest range of various primary and secondary information, which allows them to thoroughly study any weather manifestations. It is also important that the problem of climate change has begun to actively attract scientists from other fields.
With the development of science, researchers are actively contributing to attracting the general public to this topic. In particular, for a long time, climate change was not an object of concern for people until it began to affect their personal lives. Bergquist et al. (2019) conducted research on how personal experience of extreme weather events influences people’s perception of climate change. They found that people affected by this problem are aware of the possible relationship between anthropogenic environmental factors and extreme weather conditions. Hai and Perlman (2022) conducted research on how political rhetoric regarding climate change can influence public perceptions of politicians. They found that linking climate change to extreme weather can reduce the popularity of politicians. In this respect, scientists are helping to shed light on how the public image of the issue is shaped through politics and the media, providing important insights into the interaction between the climate change process and public action on it.
The main motivation of researchers in this field is the desire to describe the big picture of the changes taking place, as well as to determine their relationship with extreme weather conditions. This is necessary to develop adequate methods of responding to this problem. For example, Clarke et al. (2022) found that not all extreme weather events are uniquely the result of climate change. These conclusions are important because they help to make the right decisions in addressing the global problem. The main challenges faced by researchers are the need to fit the political agenda, as well as the difficulty in sorting through large amounts of data to find significant connections. In addition, the problem of climate change is of a global nature, which requires active cooperation at the international level from modern scientists, which is not always easy to implement.
The main ethical issues that apply to the topic of global climate change and related extreme weather are political. In particular, political response is heavily dependent on research data and relies on the opinions of scholars. However, it is often difficult for them to convey information to the public and politicians due to various restrictions. In this situation, the collaboration of the political system and the scientific community is the basis for mitigating the negative effects of climate change. However, research can be biased because it can be funded by political agenda groups. Additionally, the dissemination of scientific demonstrations on this issue is also limited, as it may cause an unpredictable response from the public.
The Value of Studying the Natural Science
Using a scientific perspective in everyday life helps me to critically analyze information when making decisions. I aim to research several different sources that represent the opinions of different groups in order to minimize the impact of potential bias. The main challenge of my community is the limited ability to participate in decision-making. Being a more scientifically informed citizen can help in more reasoned communication with the authorities to advance the opinions of community members. The main benefit in this case is the ability to provide more convincing information to the authorities about the existing problems and effective methods of addressing them.
Being more scientifically informed can help me look at global issues from a more holistic perspective. In particular, I can participate in the development of effective solutions based on various factors, taking into account not only the existing situation, but also the limitations associated with it. The basic idea is that humanity exists in an infinitely complex world and that any action is influenced by many aspects. In relation to global problems, these factors become infinitely numerous. Thus, the application of scientific knowledge in addressing any problems can help in finding the most effective way to solve them. It is important to remember that when dealing with global problems, the main difficulty lies not in establishing facts, but in their accurate representation to the global community.
References
Alimonti, G., Mariani, L. , Prodi, F., & Ricci, R. A. (2022). A critical assessment of extreme events trends in times of global warming. The European Physical Journal Plus, 137.
Bergquist, M., Nilsson, A., & Schultz, P. W. (2019). Experiencing a severe weather event increases concern about climate change. Frontiers in psychology, 10.
Clarke, B., Otto, F., Stuart-Smith, R., & Harrington, L. (2022). Extreme weather impacts of climate change: an attribution perspective. Environmental Research: Climate, 1(1).
Fazel-Rastgar, F. (2020). Extreme weather events related to climate change: Widespread flooding in Iran, March–April 2019. SN Applied Sciences, 2.
Hai, Z., & Perlman, R. L. (2022). Extreme weather events and the politics of climate change attribution. Science Advances, 8(36).
Reuters, T. (2022). Analysis reveals how climate change is influencing extreme weather. CBC News.