Throughout the 10,000 year history of human civilization, weather patterns have remained relatively constant. Though floods, droughts, storms and other extreme weather events have always been a reality, they have been rare occurences interrupting long periods of calm - sudden outbursts of violence marring a gentle rhythm.

Now, because of human induced climate change, that gentle rhythm is breaking up.

The frequency of extreme weather events has increased steadily over the last century. The number of weather-related disasters during the 1990s was four times that of the 1950s, and cost 14 times as much in economic losses. The economic toll from extreme weather events in Canada in recent years has been significant, examples include Hurricane Juan in Halifax ($200 million), the 2003 summer wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta ($400 million) and the 2001-2002 droughts which impacted much of the country ($5.8 billion reduction in GDP).

These trends confirm the predictions of computer models: as the atmosphere warms, the climate will not only become hotter but much more unstable.  

Rewiring the Weather Machine

The El Nino Connection

Extreme Weather Events on the Rise

Extreme Economic Impacts

A Nurturing Past