How Climate Change Connects to More Storms and Flooding

Yes, there is more debate about climate change than there was a decade ago, but it feels highly abstract, with few making the connection between climate change and their day-to-day life. One of the most important ways is the increase in storms and flooding inundation. Let’s discuss this issue in a systematic manner and explain why this is happening.

What is Climate Change?

Before we attempt to do that, let’s briefly explain what climate change is. And how do you define climate change? It is the change in climate over a substantial period of time. Generation of Greenhouse Gases Over the Years due to Deforestation, Burning of Fossil Fuels (Coal Oil and Gas) and Industrialisation Greenhouse gases surround earth and gather solar energy causing rise in temperature of the planet. This process is a part of climate change, which we refer to as global warming.

What is the Link Between Climate Change and Storms and Floods?

We are now going to turn to how this warming influences storms and floods.

1. Warmer Air and Moist Air

In times of warming, air holds on to more moisture which leads to more water present for the creation of clouds. When there is cloud formation, it results in changes in the weather, causing it to become more stormy. With such changes, more water becomes available during the precipitation period and as a result, the rainfall becomes heavier. This contributes to rainfalls and floods in specific regions of the world.

2. Intense Storms

Warm water in oceans also fuels storms, these are hurricanes and cyclones. The warmer the water, the more energy it gives to these storms, making them more intense and powerful. We see storms becoming stronger, with more damage caused by wind and rain. Sometimes these storms can even outlast their normal duration.

3. Rising Sea Levels

The global climate change scenarios have also been linked to the melting of the ice caps, glaciers and polar ice sheets which are leading to rising sea levels. Crowded coastal regions facing dangerously high sea levels are more vulnerable to flooding during storms. A coastic strong storm with powerful winds, severe rain, and raised sea levels leads to floods. This combination is becoming all the more frequent, together with its dire consequences.

Why Is This Happening More Often?

The increased severity and frequency of severe storms and floods over the last few decades are quite distinct. The emergence of heavy rains and flooding has been alarming in previously non-affected regions. As the earth's temperature increases the weather changes to a more irregular pattern. Some regions face dire drought and others are facing heavy monsoons and storms. These changes are becoming more difficult for communities to prepare for as well as deal with.

What Can We Do?

So what are the options we have? Climate change is indeed a challenge we face, but it can be fought through deliberate action. Here are some of the ideas:

• Reduce Carbon Emissions: Everyone can try to use less power, travel less, and use renewable sources of energy such as wind or solar energy.
• Floods and storm preparedness: An improvement in infrastructure such as stronger dams and flood defences need to be built within the community.
• Protect Forests: Trees help mitigate the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and soil erosion floods and other natural disasters.

Final Thoughts

Put simply: climate change is making our weather worse. Storms and floods — natural disasters — are becoming more common and their scale is broader than before. We must understand how climate change is related to this change in weather and act to safeguard ourselves and the planet. If we all work together, we can slow down the negative effects of climate change and build a safer community.

Let us work together today for a better tomorrow!

For more useful Insights:

Understanding Floods: What They Are, How They Happen, and How to Stay Safe

Wildfires, Floods, and Droughts: How Climate Change is Fueling Natural Disasters