US President Donald Trump's claim that a massive winter storm hitting the country is evidence that global warming is a hoax is being widely debunked by climate experts.
The storm, expected to bring freezing temperatures and heavy snow to half of the US, has left many scratching their heads as they try to understand how it could be related to the supposed lack of global warming. However, those familiar with climate science say this is precisely what would be expected under a changing climate.
When the polar vortex weakens or stretches out, cold Arctic air can spill south into the US, leading to extreme weather events like the current storm. This phenomenon has been extensively studied by researchers, who have found that global warming could indeed be accelerating such disruptions.
The fact that the Arctic is heating up at an alarming rate - four times faster than the rest of the planet - is also having a significant impact on the polar vortex. The loss of sea ice in this region amplifies the temperature increases, which can lead to these disruptions.
Trump's assertion that a single winter storm proves climate science wrong ignores the fact that global warming has already caused significant changes to seasonal norms and weather patterns across the US. In recent decades, winters have been warming at a faster rate than other seasons, leading to the loss of glaciers and shifting of seasonal norms.
Furthermore, climate data shows that cold days are still occurring but are being significantly outnumbered by record hot days. Since 1970, there has been an average temperature rise of at least 2.5C across the US in its coldest temperatures per year.
The fact remains that global warming is real and its effects are being felt around the world. Instead of cherry-picking extreme weather events to suit his own narrative, Trump should be focusing on finding evidence-based solutions to mitigate its impacts.
The storm, expected to bring freezing temperatures and heavy snow to half of the US, has left many scratching their heads as they try to understand how it could be related to the supposed lack of global warming. However, those familiar with climate science say this is precisely what would be expected under a changing climate.
When the polar vortex weakens or stretches out, cold Arctic air can spill south into the US, leading to extreme weather events like the current storm. This phenomenon has been extensively studied by researchers, who have found that global warming could indeed be accelerating such disruptions.
The fact that the Arctic is heating up at an alarming rate - four times faster than the rest of the planet - is also having a significant impact on the polar vortex. The loss of sea ice in this region amplifies the temperature increases, which can lead to these disruptions.
Trump's assertion that a single winter storm proves climate science wrong ignores the fact that global warming has already caused significant changes to seasonal norms and weather patterns across the US. In recent decades, winters have been warming at a faster rate than other seasons, leading to the loss of glaciers and shifting of seasonal norms.
Furthermore, climate data shows that cold days are still occurring but are being significantly outnumbered by record hot days. Since 1970, there has been an average temperature rise of at least 2.5C across the US in its coldest temperatures per year.
The fact remains that global warming is real and its effects are being felt around the world. Instead of cherry-picking extreme weather events to suit his own narrative, Trump should be focusing on finding evidence-based solutions to mitigate its impacts.