Scientists: Ongoing Weather Extremes Offer Proof of Climate Change

The bizarre weather of early summer in the US – from heatwave, wildfires, drought to freak storms – is just a sampling of what is to come for 2012 and a window to the future under climate change, scientists have said.

Scientists are wary of linking specific weather events to climate change, and this year's punishing heat and deadly thunder storms have been confined to the Americas. Europe, Asia and Africa haven't experienced severe weather this year – though they have in past years.

But the run of extreme weather offers real-time proof of the consequences of climate change, said Kevin Trenberth, who heads climate research at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado – itself the scene of devastating wildfires.

'We are certainly seeing climate change in action,' he said. 'This year has been exceptionally unusual throughout the United States.'"

Suzanne Goldenberg reports for the Guardian July 3, 2012.

SEE ALSO:

"Janet Napolitano Connects Wildfires to Climate Change" (Mother Jones)

"Climate Change: U.S. Heat Waves, Wildfires And Flooding Are 'What Global Warming Looks Like'" (AP)

"Wildfire, Heat Wave: Is It Climate Change?" (Orange County Register)