Cracking the code of 2022’s unprecedented heatwaves and droughts

Extreme Weather Events and their Implications: A Global Perspective

Introduction

Extreme weather events have been making headlines worldwide due to their increasing frequency and severity, often attributed to ongoing global-scale warming. The year 2022 was no exception, with record-breaking heatwaves and droughts of highly unusual spatial extent, duration, and intensity. A study titled “Understanding and Attribution of Extreme Heat and Drought Events in 2022: Current Situation and Future Challenges” examines these events from a global perspective, shedding light on the causes and implications of these extreme weather phenomena.

Research Findings

The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Met Office, the UK’s national meteorological service, delves into some of those events of particularly striking impacts that occurred in various parts of the world in 2022. Extreme droughts measured by surface soil moisture covered almost 50% of global land areas in 2022, marking the second most widespread year since 1980. In many places, these droughts were also accompanied by unprecedented heatwaves with hotspots in China’s Yangtze River region, western Europe, the western U.S., the Horn of Africa and central South America. By exploring the potential roles of circulation patterns, oceanic forcing (notably the “triple-dip” La Niña) and anthropogenic climate change, the study reviews potential causes of the events. With the global community increasingly concerned about the impacts of climate change, the study serves as a crucial reference for advancing our understanding, prediction, and attribution of extreme weather events, ultimately working towards a more resilient future.

Significance of the Research

Lead author Dr. Lixia Zhang from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences emphasized the significance of this research, stating, “The extreme heatwaves and droughts of 2022 were unprecedented in their scale and impact. Our study seeks to unravel the complex interplay of factors that led to these events, with the ultimate goal of enhancing our ability to predict and mitigate the consequences of future extreme weather occurrences.”

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This work was supported through the Climate Science for Service Partnership (CSSP) China project, delivered by the Met Office, the UK’s national meteorological service. The research findings contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
2. SDG 15: Life on Land

Conclusion

Commenting on the study, Met Office scientist Robin Clark, one of the co-authors, says: “What happened in 2022, and indeed, in other recent years, really does appear to be a foretaste of what is likely to become increasingly common in coming years and decades as climate change starts taking hold.” The study, along with many others, is published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, as part of a special issue on the Climate Science for Service Partnership (CSSP) China project, released on October 14.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and droughts, which are directly related to climate change. Therefore, SDG 13, which focuses on climate action, is addressed. Additionally, the article mentions the impact of these extreme weather events on global land areas, highlighting the connection to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
• Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services

The article emphasizes the need to understand and predict extreme weather events in order to enhance resilience and mitigate their consequences. This aligns with Target 13.1 under SDG 13. Additionally, the mention of the impact of extreme weather events on global land areas relates to Target 15.1 under SDG 15, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 13.1: Number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies
• Indicator for Target 15.1: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, to measure progress towards Target 13.1, the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies can be used as an indicator. For Target 15.1, the proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity covered by protected areas can be used as an indicator to assess the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: eurekalert.org

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