There was a sharp increase in non-hurricane disasters from the 2000s to the 2010s. A list of disasters with real costs more than $10B:
Event Date Cost
Missouri River and North Central Flooding 3/31/2019 13
Western Wildfires, California Firestorm 12/31/2018 29
Western Wildfires, California Firestorm 12/31/2017 23
Louisiana Flooding 8/15/2016 13
Western/Plains Drought/Heat Wave 11/30/2013 14
U.S. Drought/Heat Wave 12/31/2012 41
Southern Plains/Southwest Drought and Heat Wave 8/31/2011 17
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes 5/27/2011 12
Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes 4/28/2011 14
U.S. Drought 12/31/2008 10
Midwest Flooding 6/30/2008 14
U.S. Drought 11/30/2002 16
The US population only increased about 10% over these 10 years (2005 to 2015). There were more fires and more flooding. Global warming is expected to increase fires, droughts, and flooding.
Scientists confirm global floods and droughts worsened by climate change, March 13, 2023
âThe intensity of extreme drought and rainfall has âsharplyâ increased over the past 20 years, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Water⌠A warmer atmosphere increases the rate at which water evaporates during dry periods. It also holds more water vapor, which fuels heavy rainfall events. The study noted that infrastructure like airports and sewage treatment plants that were designed to withstand once-in-a-100-year events are becoming more challenged as these extremes happen more often and with more intensity.â
The paper summary is behind a paywall. $5 to rent for 48 hours. Can read the first page of the 2-page article for free.
Floods and droughts are intensifying globally, March 13, 2023
âSatellite data show hydroclimatic extreme events are increasing in frequency, duration, and extent under warming conditions. The frequency and intensity of hydroclimatic events, such as extreme precipitation and droughts, are increasing due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions1. Under warming conditions, climate change manifests itself through water by intensifying the water cycle â exacerbating evaporative demands during dry events and increasing atmospheric moisture that fuels heavy precipitation. Extreme wet and dry events affect every continent across the globe, causing harm to human health, damage to infrastructure, economic losses, crop failure, ecosystem degradation, and triggering humanitarian crises such as food insecurity and conflict.â
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-023-00047-y
The paper is behind a paywall. $10 to rent for 48 hours. Can read the first page of the 7-page article for free.
Changing intensity of hydroclimatic extreme events revealed by GRACE and GRACE-FO, March 13, 2023
âDistortion of the water cycle, particularly of its extremes (droughts and pluvials), will be among the most conspicuous consequences of climate change⌠Floods and droughts account for more than 20% of the economic losses caused by extreme weather events in the United States each year, with droughts ranked second following tropical cyclones among all major disastersâ
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-023-00040-5