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Extreme weather events are defined as any weather aspect that poses risks to life, property, or necessitates intervention from authorities.
Answer: False
Explanation: The provided definition aligns with 'severe weather' as defined by the World Meteorological Organization. Extreme weather, more broadly, refers to events at the statistical extremes of a location's historical weather distribution, which are considered rare for a particular place and time of year.
The main types of extreme weather events include heat waves, cold waves, droughts, and heavy precipitation or storm events like tropical cyclones and tornadoes.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source material explicitly lists heat waves, cold waves, droughts, heavy precipitation, tropical cyclones, and tornadoes as the main types of extreme weather events.
The World Meteorological Organization defines 'severe weather' as any weather aspect that poses risks to life, property, or necessitates intervention from authorities.
Answer: True
Explanation: The World Meteorological Organization defines 'severe weather' as any weather aspect that poses risks to life, property, or necessitates intervention from authorities.
Which of the following best defines extreme weather events?
Answer: Unexpected, unusual, severe, or unseasonal weather events occurring at the extremes of a location's historical weather distribution.
Explanation: The source defines extreme weather as unexpected, unusual, severe, or unseasonal events at the extremes of historical weather distribution, considered rare for a given place and time.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, what constitutes 'severe weather'?
Answer: Any weather aspect that poses risks to life, property, or necessitates intervention from authorities.
Explanation: The World Meteorological Organization defines 'severe weather' as any weather aspect that poses risks to life, property, or necessitates intervention from authorities.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a main type of extreme weather event in the source material?
Answer: Earthquakes
Explanation: The main types of extreme weather events listed are heat waves, cold waves, droughts, and heavy precipitation or storm events like tropical cyclones and tornadoes. Earthquakes are geophysical events, not meteorological.
Heat waves are often more visibly dramatic and destructive than hurricanes or tornadoes, which is why they receive more media attention.
Answer: False
Explanation: Heat waves are often considered less known and receive less media attention precisely because they are not as visibly dramatic or immediately destructive as phenomena like hurricanes or tornadoes.
Severely hot weather can lead to increased air pollution because plants close their leaf pores to conserve water, reducing their ability to absorb pollutants.
Answer: True
Explanation: During excessive heat, plants close their stomata to conserve water, which diminishes their capacity to absorb atmospheric pollutants, thereby increasing ambient pollution and ozone levels.
The 2003 European heat wave is estimated to have caused approximately 460 excess deaths due to heat stress and air pollution.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2003 European heat wave is estimated to have caused approximately 30,000 excess deaths. The figure of 460 deaths is associated with the 2006 UK heatwave.
Why are heat waves often considered less known compared to other severe weather forms like hurricanes?
Answer: They are not as visibly dramatic or destructive in their immediate manifestation.
Explanation: Heat waves are often less known because they are not as visibly dramatic or destructive in their immediate manifestation compared to other severe weather forms like hurricanes.
How many excess deaths were estimated to have been caused by the 2003 European heat wave?
Answer: 30,000
Explanation: The 2003 European heat wave is estimated to have caused 30,000 excess deaths due to heat stress and air pollution.
The U.S. National Weather Service defines a cold wave as a rapid fall in temperature within a 24-hour period that requires increased protection for various sectors, with specific criteria varying by region.
Answer: True
Explanation: The U.S. National Weather Service defines a cold wave as a rapid and substantial temperature drop within 24 hours, necessitating increased protection for agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities, with criteria varying regionally.
Cold waves are primarily formed by warm air masses accumulating over specific regions, driven by movements of air streams.
Answer: False
Explanation: Cold waves are primarily formed by the accumulation of large *cool* air masses over specific regions, driven by movements of air streams, not warm air masses.
The 'Year Without a Summer' in 1816 was caused by an extreme cold wave event that resulted from a significant increase in solar radiation.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'Year Without a Summer' in 1816 was caused by volcanic eruptions that reduced incoming sunlight, leading to global cooling, not an increase in solar radiation.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service, what is a key characteristic of a cold wave?
Answer: A rapid fall in temperature within a 24-hour period necessitating increased protection for various activities.
Explanation: The U.S. National Weather Service defines a cold wave as a rapid fall in temperature within a 24-hour period that requires substantially increased protection for agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities.
What caused the 'Year Without a Summer' in 1816?
Answer: Volcanic eruptions that reduced incoming sunlight, leading to global cooling.
Explanation: The 'Year Without a Summer' in 1816 was caused by volcanic eruptions that reduced incoming sunlight, leading to global cooling and widespread crop failure.
Global warming contributes to more severe heavy rainfall events because warmer air can hold more moisture, leading to precipitation at a greater rate.
Answer: True
Explanation: Warmer air has a greater capacity to hold moisture due to the increased kinetic energy of water molecules. This leads to an increase in atmospheric water vapor, resulting in heavy rainfall events occurring at a greater rate and becoming more severe.
Tropical cyclones derive their energy primarily from horizontal temperature contrasts, similar to mid-latitude cyclonic storms.
Answer: False
Explanation: Tropical cyclones are fueled by the latent heat released from the evaporation and condensation of water from warm ocean surfaces. Mid-latitude cyclonic storms, in contrast, are primarily powered by horizontal temperature contrasts.
Tropical cyclones rarely form near the equator because the Earth's rotation, which imparts angular momentum for their strong rotating winds, is weakest there.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Coriolis effect, which provides the angular momentum necessary for the strong rotating winds of tropical cyclones, is weakest at the equator, thus inhibiting their formation within 5 degrees of it.
South Atlantic tropical cyclones are very rare due to consistently strong wind shear and a weak Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Answer: True
Explanation: The consistent presence of strong wind shear, which disrupts storm formation, and a weak Intertropical Convergence Zone, which typically promotes convection, are the primary reasons for the rarity of tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic basin.
An increase in global precipitation necessarily translates to universally wetter conditions and an increase in drinking water availability.
Answer: False
Explanation: An increase in global precipitation does not guarantee universally wetter conditions or increased drinking water availability. Shifts in rainfall patterns can lead to droughts in some areas while others receive more rain, and rising temperatures increase evaporation, offsetting precipitation gains.
Climate change is expected to decrease the frequency of very intense tropical cyclones and cause an equatorward extension of where these cyclones reach their maximum intensity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Climate change is expected to *increase* the frequency of very intense tropical cyclones and cause a *poleward* extension of where these cyclones reach their maximum intensity.
Between 1979 and 2017, there was a global decrease in the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching Category 3 and higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale.
Answer: False
Explanation: Between 1979 and 2017, there was a global *increase* in the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching Category 3 and higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale.
In 2020, NOAA predicted that over the 21st Century, the frequency of tropical storms and Atlantic hurricanes would decline by 25 percent, while their maximum intensity would rise by 5 percent.
Answer: True
Explanation: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted in 2020 that for the 21st Century, the frequency of tropical storms and Atlantic hurricanes would decline by 25 percent, while their maximum intensity would rise by 5 percent.
How does global warming contribute to more severe heavy rainfall events?
Answer: Warmer air can hold more moisture due to increased kinetic energy of water molecules, resulting in precipitation at a greater rate.
Explanation: Global warming leads to an increase in atmospheric water vapor because warmer air can hold more moisture due to increased kinetic energy of water molecules, resulting in heavy rainfall events occurring at a greater rate and becoming more severe.
What is the primary energy source for tropical cyclones?
Answer: Latent heat from the evaporation and condensation of water from the ocean surface.
Explanation: Tropical cyclones derive their immense energy from the latent heat released during the evaporation and subsequent condensation of water from the warm ocean surface.
Why do tropical cyclones rarely form within 5 degrees of the equator?
Answer: The Earth's rotation, which imparts angular momentum for strong rotating winds, is weakest at the equator.
Explanation: Tropical cyclones rarely form within 5 degrees of the equator because the Coriolis effect, which provides the angular momentum for their strong rotating winds, is weakest there.
What two factors primarily contribute to the rarity of tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic?
Answer: Consistently strong wind shear and a weak Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Explanation: The rarity of tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic is primarily due to consistently strong wind shear, which disrupts storm formation, and a weak Intertropical Convergence Zone.
How can shifts in rainfall patterns lead to droughts, even if global precipitation increases?
Answer: Shifts can result in greater precipitation in one area while another experiences hotter, drier conditions, and increased temperatures boost evaporation.
Explanation: Shifts in rainfall patterns can lead to droughts by concentrating precipitation in some areas while others become hotter and drier. Additionally, increased temperatures boost evaporation, meaning overall global precipitation increases do not guarantee universally wetter conditions.
What specific change is projected for tropical cyclones due to warming ocean temperatures?
Answer: An increase in the frequency of very intense storms.
Explanation: Warming ocean temperatures are projected to increase the frequency of very intense tropical cyclones, intensify rainfall and wind speed, and cause a poleward extension of where these cyclones reach their maximum intensity.
Between 1979 and 2017, what trend was observed globally regarding tropical cyclones?
Answer: A global increase in the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching Category 3 and higher.
Explanation: Between 1979 and 2017, there was a global increase in the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching Category 3 and higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale.
What did the NOAA predict in 2020 for the 21st Century regarding Atlantic hurricanes?
Answer: Frequency would decline by 25 percent, while maximum intensity would rise by 5 percent.
Explanation: In 2020, NOAA predicted that over the 21st Century, the frequency of tropical storms and Atlantic hurricanes would decline by 25 percent, while their maximum intensity would rise by 5 percent.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a tropical cyclone?
Answer: It is characterized by a low-pressure area, closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and heavy rain.
Explanation: A tropical cyclone is characterized by a low-pressure area, closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls.
Natural climate variability, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), can contribute to extreme weather events, but these phenomena alone cannot cause record-breaking events without human-induced warming.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source indicates that while natural climate variability impacts weather patterns and contributes to extreme events, record-breaking events often result from the combination of these natural phenomena with human-induced warming.
Climate change is projected to make all extreme weather events more frequent and more intense, including cold waves.
Answer: False
Explanation: While climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of *some* extreme weather events, cold, snow, and ice events are noted as an exception to this trend, with some projections indicating an overall decline in their intensity and frequency.
A 2023 study found that strong extreme cold events (ECEs) are projected to significantly decrease in frequency and area over the Northern Hemisphere with global warming.
Answer: False
Explanation: A 2023 study projected that *weak* extreme cold events (ECEs) would significantly decrease. Strong ECEs, however, show no significant global trend in frequency or area, though they are increasing in specific regions like Siberia and Canada.
Contemporary research in extreme weather attribution primarily focuses on predicting specific extreme events rather than attributing the causes of trends.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contemporary research in extreme weather attribution has shifted its focus from predicting specific events to primarily attributing the causes of observed trends in these events, particularly their connection to climate change.
The 2016 National Academies report recommended enhancing the connection between attribution research outcomes and weather forecasting.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 2016 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine specifically recommended enhancing the connection between attribution research outcomes and weather forecasting to improve understanding and prediction of extreme events.
Climate models are exact representations of atmospheric behavior and can precisely predict all future weather events.
Answer: False
Explanation: Climate models are vital tools for simulating atmospheric behavior and providing predictions about future characteristics, but they are approximations. Weather events are complex with many atmospheric variables, meaning models cannot precisely predict all future events.
The Earth's atmosphere is influenced by natural factors such as the planet's tilt and orbit, solar radiation, air mass movements, and the water cycle.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Earth's atmosphere is a complex system influenced by several natural factors, including the planet's natural tilt and orbit, the absorption or reflection of solar radiation, the movement of air masses, and the water cycle.
The melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica could disrupt the thermohaline circulation, potentially leading to increased extreme temperatures and more frequent storms in regions like Europe.
Answer: True
Explanation: Simulations suggest that meltwater from Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets could disrupt the thermohaline circulation, which distributes heat globally, potentially leading to increased extreme temperatures and more frequent storms in regions such as Europe.
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2021) projects progressively large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events with increasing global warming.
Answer: True
Explanation: The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2021) projects progressively large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, directly correlating with increasing degrees of global warming.
How does natural climate variability, such as ENSO, interact with human-induced warming to affect extreme weather?
Answer: Natural phenomena, when combined with human-induced warming, can lead to record-breaking extreme weather events.
Explanation: The source states that natural climate variability, when combined with human-induced warming, can lead to record-breaking extreme weather events.
What is a projected impact of climate change on some extreme weather events?
Answer: An increase in the frequency and intensity of some extreme weather events, particularly heat waves and cold waves.
Explanation: Climate change is projected to make some extreme weather events more frequent and more intense, particularly heat waves and cold waves, with rising global temperatures worsening these events.
What did a 2023 study project regarding weak extreme cold events (ECEs) in the Northern Hemisphere with global warming?
Answer: A significant decrease in their frequency, projection area, and total area.
Explanation: A 2023 study projected that weak extreme cold events (ECEs) would significantly decrease in frequency, projection area, and total area over the Northern Hemisphere with global warming.
What is the primary focus of contemporary research in extreme weather attribution?
Answer: Attributing the causes of trends in extreme weather events, particularly the connection to climate change.
Explanation: Contemporary research in extreme weather attribution primarily focuses on attributing the causes of trends in these events, especially their connection to climate change, rather than predicting specific future events.
What was a key recommendation from the 2016 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine regarding attribution research?
Answer: To invest in improved shared practices and enhance the connection between research outcomes and weather forecasting.
Explanation: The 2016 National Academies report recommended investing in improved shared practices across attribution research and enhancing the connection between research outcomes and weather forecasting.
What role do climate models play in studying extreme weather and climate change?
Answer: They are vital for providing predictions about future characteristics of the atmosphere, oceans, and Earth, and simulating atmospheric behavior.
Explanation: Climate models are vital for providing predictions about future characteristics of the atmosphere, oceans, and Earth, and for simulating atmospheric behavior to identify mitigation steps, though they are approximations.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a natural factor influencing Earth's atmosphere and contributing to climate variability?
Answer: Human industrial emissions.
Explanation: Natural factors influencing Earth's atmosphere include the planet's tilt and orbit, solar radiation, air mass movements, and the water cycle. Human industrial emissions are an anthropogenic, not natural, factor.
How could the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica potentially affect global climate systems?
Answer: It could disrupt the thermohaline circulation, potentially leading to increased extreme temperatures and more frequent storms in regions like Europe.
Explanation: The melting of ice sheets could disrupt the thermohaline circulation, which is responsible for global heat distribution, potentially leading to increased extreme temperatures and more frequent storms in regions like Europe.
What does the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2021) project regarding extreme weather events with increasing global warming?
Answer: Progressively large increases in both the frequency and intensity.
Explanation: The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2021) projects progressively large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, corresponding to increasing degrees of global warming.
According to Climate Central's review, which type of extreme weather event was noted as an exception to the trend of climate change making events substantially more likely or severe?
Answer: Cold, snow, and ice events
Explanation: Climate Central's review found that climate change made nearly all studied extreme weather event types substantially more likely or severe, with cold, snow, and ice events noted as an exception.
There was a significant decrease in climate-related events reported between 1980-1999 and 2000-2019.
Answer: False
Explanation: There was a significant *increase* in climate-related events reported, with approximately 6,681 events during 2000–2019, compared to 3,656 events during 1980–1999.
The increased cost of billion-dollar Atlantic hurricanes is solely attributed to climate change.
Answer: False
Explanation: The increased cost of billion-dollar Atlantic hurricanes is attributed to both climate change and the growing number of people moving to coastal areas, not solely to climate change.
Poor urban planning, such as increasing impervious surfaces and destroying wetlands, can exacerbate the effects of extreme precipitation and flooding.
Answer: True
Explanation: Anthropogenic activities, particularly poor urban planning involving increased impervious surfaces and destruction of wetlands, reduce the land's capacity to absorb water, thereby exacerbating extreme precipitation and flooding.
Urban areas contribute to extreme weather events like urban heat islands because impervious surfaces absorb solar energy and tall structures alter wind patterns.
Answer: True
Explanation: Urban areas contribute to extreme weather phenomena such as urban heat islands. Impervious surfaces absorb solar energy, and tall structures alter wind patterns, pushing warmer air upwards and inducing convection, which can create localized thunderstorms and increased precipitation.
The IPCC estimated in 2011 that annual losses from weather-related disasters since 1980 have consistently remained below US$50 billion.
Answer: False
Explanation: The IPCC estimated in 2011 that annual losses from weather-related disasters since 1980 have ranged from a few billion to over US$200 billion, indicating they have not consistently remained below US$50 billion.
The World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2023–2024 (GRPS) identified extreme weather as a top risk, with younger respondents prioritizing environmental risks in the short-term.
Answer: True
Explanation: The World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2023–2024 identified extreme weather as a top risk, with 66 percent of respondents agreeing. It also noted that younger respondents prioritized environmental risks in the short-term.
Global deaths from natural disasters have significantly increased since the 1920s, despite a rise in global temperatures.
Answer: False
Explanation: Global deaths from natural disasters have declined by over 90 percent since the 1920s, despite population growth and a rise in global temperatures.
Cyclone Amphan in 2020, which struck India and Bangladesh, resulted in a death toll comparable to the 1970 cyclone in Bangladesh, demonstrating a lack of improvement in disaster response.
Answer: False
Explanation: Cyclone Amphan in 2020 resulted in a dramatically lower death toll (120 total deaths) compared to the 1970 cyclone (300,000 deaths), demonstrating significant improvements in disaster preparedness and response.
A 2021 study found that cold-related deaths constituted a larger share of global mortality attributed to extreme temperatures between 2000 and 2019, and this share was increasing.
Answer: False
Explanation: A 2021 study found that cold-related deaths constituted a larger share of global mortality but were *decreasing*, while heat-related deaths were increasing.
The 2023 study on excess mortality in European urban areas estimated that extreme heat events contributed to a significantly higher number of excess deaths than extreme cold events between 2000 and 2019.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2023 study estimated that extreme *cold* events contributed to over 200,000 excess deaths, while extreme *heat* events contributed to over 20,000 excess deaths, indicating cold events caused significantly more deaths.
What trend was observed in climate-related events between 1980-1999 and 2000-2019?
Answer: A significant increase, with approximately 6,681 events in the later period compared to 3,656 in the earlier.
Explanation: There was a significant increase in climate-related events reported, with approximately 6,681 events during 2000–2019, compared to 3,656 events during 1980–1999.
What factors have contributed to the increased cost of billion-dollar Atlantic hurricanes?
Answer: Both climate change and the growing number of people moving to coastal areas.
Explanation: The increased cost of billion-dollar Atlantic hurricanes is attributed to both anthropogenic climate change and the growing number of people moving to coastal areas.
How do human activities, specifically poor urban planning, exacerbate extreme precipitation and flooding?
Answer: By increasing impervious surfaces and destroying wetlands, which reduces water absorption and removes natural 'cushions'.
Explanation: Poor urban planning, including increasing impervious surfaces and destroying wetlands, reduces the land's natural capacity to absorb water, thereby exacerbating extreme precipitation and flooding.
What is one way urban areas contribute to the urban heat island effect?
Answer: Impervious surfaces absorb solar energy, and pollution/heat from cars contribute to drastic temperature increases.
Explanation: Impervious surfaces in urban areas absorb solar energy, and combined with pollution and heat from vehicles, contribute substantially to the urban heat island effect, causing drastic temperature increases.
What were the estimated annual economic losses from weather-related disasters since 1980, according to the IPCC in 2011?
Answer: Ranged from a few billion to over US$200 billion.
Explanation: The IPCC estimated in 2011 that annual losses from weather-related disasters since 1980 ranged from a few billion to over US$200 billion.
Why is it difficult to accurately value the total losses from global weather-related disasters?
Answer: Because human lives, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services are difficult to accurately value and monetize.
Explanation: Accurately valuing total losses from global weather-related disasters is challenging because non-economic costs like human lives, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services are difficult to monetize and are often poorly reflected in official estimates.
What trend has been observed in global deaths from natural disasters since the 1920s?
Answer: A decline by over 90 percent, despite population growth and global warming.
Explanation: Global deaths from natural disasters have declined by over 90 percent since the 1920s, despite a quadrupling of the human population and a 1.3°C rise in global temperatures.
How did the death toll of Cyclone Amphan in 2020 compare to earlier cyclones in South Asia, such as the 1970 event?
Answer: Cyclone Amphan resulted in a dramatically lower death toll (120 total deaths) compared to the 1970 cyclone (300,000 deaths).
Explanation: Cyclone Amphan in 2020 resulted in a dramatically lower death toll (120 total deaths) compared to the 1970 cyclone (300,000 deaths), demonstrating significant improvements in disaster preparedness and response.
What did a 2021 study reveal about global mortality attributed to extreme temperatures between 2000 and 2019?
Answer: Cold-related deaths constituted the larger share but were decreasing, while heat-related deaths were increasing.
Explanation: A 2021 study found that cold-related deaths constituted the larger share of global mortality attributed to extreme temperatures but were decreasing, while heat-related deaths were increasing.
What did Munich Re announce regarding global natural disaster deaths for the first half of 2020?
Answer: The 2,900 total global deaths represented a record-low figure.
Explanation: Munich Re announced that the 2,900 total global deaths from natural disasters during the first half of 2020 represented a record-low figure, significantly lower than previous averages.
The image depicting US heat wave indicators from 1960 onwards shows that heat wave seasons have grown in length, and their frequency and intensity have increased.
Answer: True
Explanation: The image illustrates that US heat waves have increased in frequency, average duration, and intensity since 1960, and that heat wave seasons have also grown in length.
The image showing water vapor content in the atmosphere indicates that global warming has led to a decrease in water vapor, making heavy rainfall events less severe.
Answer: False
Explanation: The image indicates that the amount of water vapor in Earth's atmosphere has *risen* due to global warming, which in turn makes heavy rainfall events *more* severe.
The image of a California reservoir in 2015 with low water levels visually represents the impact of the 2011–2017 California drought.
Answer: True
Explanation: The image of the California reservoir in 2015 with significantly low water levels serves as a direct visual representation of the severe impact of the 2011–2017 California drought.
The image showing the percent of global area at temperature records indicates that new low temperature records have substantially outpaced new high temperature records in recent decades.
Answer: False
Explanation: The image indicates that new *high* temperature records have substantially outpaced new *low* temperature records across an increasing portion of Earth's surface in recent decades.
What does the image depicting US heat wave indicators from 1960 onwards convey?
Answer: US heat waves have increased in frequency, average duration, intensity, and heat wave seasons have grown in length.
Explanation: The image illustrates that US heat waves have increased in frequency, average duration, and intensity since 1960, and that heat wave seasons have also grown in length.
What information does the image about North Atlantic tropical cyclone activity from 1949–2015 provide?
Answer: It suggests a correlation between warmer sea surface temperatures and increased cyclone activity.
Explanation: The image displays North Atlantic tropical cyclone activity alongside sea surface temperature, suggesting a correlation between warmer sea surface temperatures and increased cyclone activity.
What does the image showing the percent of global area at temperature records highlight?
Answer: New high temperature records have substantially outpaced new low temperature records across an increasing portion of Earth's surface.
Explanation: The image indicates that new high temperature records have substantially outpaced new low temperature records across an increasing portion of Earth's surface in recent decades, reflecting a global warming trend.