Suchergebnisse

The economic costs of weather-caused natural disasters are discussed as a warning to take seriously the academic community's conclusion that our planet undergoes a man-caused climate change. A list of major hurricanes since 2000 is compiled, noting their seasonal frequency & impact on regions & continents which up to now had little experience with this weather phenomenon. A graph illustrating the rising frequency of natural disasters between 1950 & 2000 is produced, & the growing economic cost of these catastrophes is documented using data from insurance industry sources. The sociodemographic factors responsible for these costs are identified, examining the increased settlement of coastal areas & the growing population of the state of Florida, US. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's (IPCC) third assessment report (2001) is quoted to argue the direct link between global warming & the higher frequency & intensity of extreme weather events. The recent unusual weather patterns in Europe are mentioned as the impact of global warming perceptible not only scientists but lay persons as well. Figures, Plates. Z. Dubiel