The 2017 NOAA and American Meteorological Society report reveals that three extreme weather events in 2016—record global heat, extreme heat in Asia, and an unusually warm “blob” of water in the Bering Sea—were not possible without human-induced climate change. This marks the first time specific weather events have been directly linked to human influence. The report emphasizes a shift in understanding, as past analyses suggested climate change amplified certain events rather than caused them outright. However, the authors caution that these may not be the first such events; prior occurrences will be reevaluated. Overall, two-thirds of the studies in the report acknowledged climate change as a factor in various extreme weather events, including significant coral bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef.
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