Archives
Categories
WeatherGuys Links
Monthly Archives: October 2026
How do we know if an extreme weather event is due to our changing climate?
Weather events result from an interaction of many factors, including current conditions of the atmosphere. Weather is considered extreme when it’s far outside of normal for a particular place and time. Weather-related extreme events include heat waves, freezes, heavy downpours and tornadoes. Attributing an extreme weather event to the observed climate change is referred to as the science of extreme event attribution.
Researchers take two complementary approaches to explore the cause-and-effect relationship between climate change and extreme weather. One method analyzes the statistics of how often a type of extreme event occurs in our current climate with how often the event occurred in a climate without human-caused climate change. This approach relies on improved climate model simulations. The other approach examines how climate change has altered the characteristics of the event. As an example, heat waves have become hotter because the atmosphere has warmed. Continue reading
Category: Climate, Meteorology, Severe Weather
Comments Off on How do we know if an extreme weather event is due to our changing climate?
Comments Off on How do we know if an extreme weather event is due to our changing climate?
What is a water year and what is it used for?
A water year is used in hydrology to describe the 12-month period for which precipitation totals of an area are determined.
The U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, operates a nationwide system of instruments to monitor discharge in rivers and issues comprehensive reports on the use of water resources. The USGS defines a water year as the 12-month period from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 of the following year. This definition standardizes the reporting of water statistics in their publications. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends, so on Oct. 1 we entered water year 2027. Continue reading
