The recent catastrophic flooding in Libya caused by the Mediterranean storm Daniel has raised concerns among scientists regarding the influence of climate change on such extreme weather events. With hurricane-like characteristics, Daniel unleashed torrential rain that resulted in devastating consequences.
Unleashing the Power of the “Medicane”:
Daniel, classified as a “medicane” due to its resemblance to hurricanes, drew immense energy from the unusually warm sea waters in the Mediterranean. As our atmosphere holds higher moisture levels due to global warming, this abundant water vapor precipitated as rain during the storm. Although it is challenging to attribute a single weather event solely to climate change, scientists highlight that certain factors align, making events like Daniel increasingly probable.
What Sets Daniel Apart:
Medicanes typically occur once or twice a year in the Mediterranean, with their peak season ranging from September to January. While not true hurricanes, they can occasionally reach hurricane strength. In the case of Daniel, it initially formed as a low-pressure weather system more than a week before the storm hit, later encountering a high-pressure system that led to excessive rainfall across Greece and Libya.
The Impact of Warming Waters:
The rise in sea temperatures has contributed to the slow movement of cyclones, enabling them to unleash heavier downpours. Raghu Murtugudde, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, emphasizes that the collective effects of human activities and climate change exacerbate the impact of storms and flooding. In Greece, the devastation was compounded by wildfires, deforestation, and compromised land structures. Similarly, the poorly maintained infrastructure in Libya further worsened the catastrophic flooding.
A Global Phenomenon:
The occurrence of intense storms and extreme weather events fueled by warm water is no longer isolated to specific regions. Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, stresses that no place is immune to the destructive nature of storms like Daniel. Recent flooding incidents in Massachusetts, Greece, Hong Kong, and Duluth highlight the global ramifications of climate change-induced weather patterns.
The Link to Climate Change:
While scientists are still in the early stages of studying Daniel specifically, observations show that the Mediterranean waters have been 2 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer this year compared to the past. Climate scientist Karsten Haustein indicates that even though weather patterns leading to Daniel may have occurred naturally, the impact would likely have been less severe in a cooler world. Without the increased water temperatures, Daniel would have developed more slowly and would not have hit Libya with such devastating force.
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