A new report published by the Global Warming Policy Foundation challenges the popular but mistaken belief that weather extremes – such as flooding, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires – are more common and more intense today because of climate change. [emphasis, links added]
Drawing on newspaper archives and long-term observational data, the report, written by Dr Ralph Alexander, documents multiple examples of past extremes that matched or exceeded anything experienced in the present-day world.
Dr Ralph Alexander said:
“That so many people are unaware of past extremes shows that collective memories of extreme weather are short-lived.
“The perception that extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity is primarily a consequence of new information technology – the Internet and smartphones – which have revolutionized communication and made us much more aware of such disasters in all corners of the world than we were 50 or 100 years ago.
“The misperception has only been amplified by the mainstream media, eager to promote the latest climate scare. And as psychologists know, constant repetition of a false belief can, over time, create the illusion of truth. But history tells a different story.
Top image shows the aftermath of Hurricane Diane, circa 1955.
Ralph Alexander: Weather extremes in historical context (pdf)
