National Heat Tolls, Record-Breaking Rain — UN Describes 'Tell-Tale Signs' Of Intensified Climate Change

From extreme heat waves in India and devastating floods in Pakistan to Europe's worst drought in 500 years, nations suffered huge losses in 2022, due to intensified climate change.

National heat tolls, record-breaking rain, dramatic rises in sea levels and record-shattering melting of glaciers are some of the tell-tale signs and impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events. (Representational image)

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Climate change impacts: The year 2022 witnessed a dramatic increase in extreme weather events worldwide. From extreme heat waves in India and devastating floods in Pakistan to Europe's worst drought in 500 years, nations suffered huge losses this year, due to intensified climate change. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations (UN) agency, has released some of the 'tell-tale signs and impacts' of climate change-induced extreme weather events. 

National heat tolls, record-breaking rain, dramatic rises in sea levels and record-shattering melting of glaciers are some of the tell-tale signs. 

On December 23, 2022, the WMO said climate-change induced disasters such as floods, extreme heat and drought have affected millions of people, and cost billions this year. These events elucidate the importance of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and advocating for strengthened climate change adaptation. 

WMO Chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement that this year, the world faced several "dramatic disasters" which claimed far too many lives and livelihoods and undermined health, food, energy and water security and infrastructure. 

Here are some of the tell-tale signs of intensified climate change

National heat tolls

According to the WMO, the year 2022 witnessed several national heat records. 

In March and April, India and Pakistan experienced extreme heat waves. This year, China faced the most extensive and long-lasting heatwave on record, and also the second-driest summer. 

Certain regions of the Northern Hemisphere including western central Europe and North America were hot and dry. 

According to a study conducted by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative, China, North America, western central Europe and other regions of the Northern Hemisphere experienced extreme heat, water shortages and soil moisture drought conditions throughout the summer of 2022. 

Extensive fires, severe agricultural losses, water shortages and high food prices were the most significant impacts of one of the hottest European summers on record. There were heat waves and exceptionally low rainfall across the Northern Hemisphere. 

As a result, there were very dry soils in France, Germany and other central European countries. There were exceptionally high temperatures and dryness in China as well. 

Due to these deficits in soil moisture, the affected regions had poor harvests and increased fire risk. 

These events led to increases in food and energy prices. 

During two consecutive heat waves in late November and early December 2022, there were record-breaking temperatures in a large area centred around the central-northern part of Argentina, and in southern Bolivia, central Chile, and most of Paraguay and Uruguay. 

The WMO Chief said record-breaking heat waves have been observed in Europe, China, North and South America, and a long-lasting drought in the Horn of Africa threatens a humanitarian catastrophe. 

There were repeated episodes of extreme heat in Europe this year. In July, the United Kingdom hit a new national record. For the first time, the temperature in the UK rose above 40 degrees Celsius. 

Record-breaking rain

This year, rainfall was below average throughout four consecutive wet seasons. This was the longest period of below average rainfall for Africa in 40 years. 

The dry spell triggered a major humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people, killing livestock and ravaging agriculture, especially in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. 

In July and August, record-breaking rain resulted in extensive flooding in Pakistan. The devastating deluge resulted in at least 1,700 deaths, displaced 7.9 million and affected 33 million people. 

Taalas said one-third of Pakistan was flooded, with major economic losses and human casualties. 

Sea level rises, increased melting of glaciers

Researchers use greenhouse gases as a climate indicator to observe levels of different parameters. Since 1993, sea levels have doubled and ocean heat content and acidification have reached record-high levels. 

According to the WMO's provisional State of the Global Climate in 2022 report, the past two and a half years alone account for 10 per cent of overall sea level rise since satellite measurements started about 30 years ago. 

In 2022, there was an exceptionally heavy toll on glaciers in the European Alps, and record-shattering melting occurred. 

In August 2021, it rained for the first time in Greenland. In September 2022, rain was observed for the first time at Summit Station, the highest location of the Greenland ice sheet. 

Warmest years on record

According to the WMO, the past eight years are on track to be the eight warmest on record. In mid-January 2023, global temperature figures for 2022 will be released. 

The La Nina effect, which is believed to be the reason behind the changes in seasonal weather patterns, and has been occurring for three consecutive years since 2020, is expected to last until the end of the Northern Hemisphere winter. The first "triple-dip" La Nina of the 21st century, the event has affected, and will continue to influence temperature and precipitation patterns in different parts of the world. 

While La Nina is associated with cooler than normal winters in the Northern Hemisphere, the cooling impact of the event will be short-lived and not reverse the long-term warming trend caused by record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, according to the WMO. 

The year 2022 will be the tenth successive year that temperatures have reached at least one degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 

WMO priorities

In 2023, some of WMO's priorities will be early warnings, building resilience to extreme weather and climate, and increasing investment in the basic global observing system. 

This will help enhance preparedness for extreme weather events, according to the WMO Chief. 

Other goals of WMO are promoting a new way of monitoring where carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are generated (source) and where they are released (sink), using satellite modelling and the ground-based Global Atmosphere Watch. This will allow better understanding of how key greenhouse gases behave in the atmosphere.