Extreme Weather and Climate Change: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)

Do scientists expect the number and severity of extreme weather events to increase in a warming world? Which parts of the world are most vulnerable to a future of weather catastrophes? This resource considers all those questions and more as it explains the relationship between climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires. Opening chapters explain climate change trends throughout history, providing readers with a foundational understanding of our current environmental moment. This coverage is supplemented with extended discussion of the political and cultural factors shaping policy responses to the issue, both historically and in the present day. In addition, Extreme Weather and Climate Change offers an extensive array of personal and scholarly essays and illuminating primary documents that discuss the issue from a range of scientific, political, and cultural standpoints.