LibGuides: Extreme Weather: Books & eBooks

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Angry Weather : Heat Waves, Floods, Storms, and the New Science of Climate Change From a leading scientist, this gripping nonfiction book explains how recent weather disasters--including heat waves, massive forest fires, and floods--can be definitively linked to climate change, through the revolutionary method of World Weather Attribution. "Meet the forensic scientists of climate change; if you like CSI, you'll be equally enthralled with the skill and speed these folks exhibit. But the stakes are infinitely higher!"--Bill McKibben, author of Falter and The End of Nature Angry Weather tells the compelling, day-by-day story of Hurricane Harvey, which caused over a hundred deaths and $125 billion in damage in 2017. As the hurricane unfolds, Otto reveals how attribution science works in real time, and determines that Harvey's terrifying floods were three times more likely to occur due to human-induced climate change. This new ability to determine climate change's role in extreme weather events has the potential to dramatically transform society--for individuals, who can see how climate change affects their loved ones, and corporations and governments, who may see themselves held accountable in the courts. Otto's research laid out in this groundbreaking book will have profound impacts, both today and for the future of humankind. Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.
Climate Change: Extreme Weather, Risks and Costs Chapter 1 examines the state of the science related to extreme weather events. It will provide an opportunity to examine the role of climate change and other weather and climate factors in causing and exacerbating extreme weather events, to discuss economic and other societal impacts of extreme weather, to explore the state of forecasting and prediction of extreme weather with a focus on how to communicate uncertainty, and to identify gaps in the science. Chapter 2 reports on the kinds of climate risk information standards and tools that communities need to reduce the risks and costs of climate change, including more extreme floods and wildfires.
Climate Courage : How Tackling Climate Change Can Build Community, Transform the Economy, and Bridge the Political Divide in America A hopeful approach to climate change that offers us practical tools to band together across the political spectrum and create the green energy-powered sustainable world that's in our grasp There's a new way of approaching climate change that no one is talking about. It's empowering citizens, uplifting communities, and it's changing the fate of our planet. Moreover, it's helping us live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. Most importantly, it's working. The new approach to climate change recognizes that people, not politics, are the agents of change that can create a sustainable world. And that in order to engage people in climate solutions, we need a new way of framing the problem. The problem is not that climate change is an insurmountable challenge--it's that it can seem like it is. Instead of focusing on governmental gridlock and apocalyptic visions, Climate Courage emphasizes the rate of job creation in the green economy, introduces the reader to the growing number of conservatives and people of faith already engaged in climate solutions, and tells the stories of the many communities that have come together to brainstorm clean energy solutions and put them into place. And in coming together to solve the climate crisis, we just may rediscover community, gratitude, and service--values which help us live more fulfilling, less consumption-oriented lives. This book brings a hopeful message that we don't often hear about--we're actually already on our way to solving the climate crisis and with more people involved in both big and small ways we will have a chance at preserving our environment.
Drought, Flood, Fire : How Climate Change Contributes to Catastrophes Every year, droughts, floods, and fires impact hundreds of millions of people and cause massive economic losses. Climate change is making these catastrophes more dangerous. Now. Not in the future: NOW. This book describes how and why climate change is already fomenting dire consequences, and will certainly make climate disasters worse in the near future. Chris C. Funk combines the latest science with compelling stories, providing a timely, accessible, and beautifully-written synopsis of this critical topic. The book describes our unique and fragile Earth system, and the negative impacts humans are having on our support systems. It then examines recent disasters, including heat waves, extreme precipitation, hurricanes, fires, El Niños and La Niñas, and their human consequences. By clearly describing the dangerous impacts that are already occurring, Funk provides a clarion call for social change, yet also conveys the beauty and wonder of our planet, and hope for our collective future.
Extreme Weather This book is about weather extremes in the United Kingdom. It presents fascinating and detailed insights into tornadoes (supercell and non-supercell tornadoes, historical and contemporary case studies, frequency and spatial distributions, and unique data on extreme events); thunderstorms (epic event analysis and observing); hailstorms (intensity, distributions and frequency of high magnitude events); lightning (lightning as a hazard, impacts and injuries); ball lightning (definitions, impacts and case studies); flooding (historical and contemporary analysis, extreme rainfall and flash flooding); snowfalls (heavy snowfall days and events). It also looks at researching weather extremes, provides guidance on performing post-storm site investigations and details what is involved in severe weather forecasting. It is written by members, directors and past and present Heads of the research group the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO). With fifteen chapters thematically arranged, and data appendix including a new tornado map of the U.K., this book presents a wealth of information on meteorological extremes.   This volume is aimed primarily at researchers in the field of meteorology and climatology, but will also be of interest to advanced undergraduate students taking relevant courses in this area.
Extreme Weather, Health, and Communities This volume presents a unique interdisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise in both the natural and social sciences. A primary goal is to present a scientific and socially integrated perspective on place-based community engagement, extreme weather, and health. Each year extreme weather is leading to natural disasters around the world and exerting huge social and health costs. The International Monetary Fund (2012) estimates that since 2010, 700 worldwide natural disasters have affected more than 450 million people around the globe. The best coping strategy for extreme weather and environmental change is a strong offense. Communities armed with a spatial understanding of their resources, risks, strengths, weaknesses, community capabilities, and social networks will have the best chance of reducing losses and achieving a better outcome when extreme weather and disaster strikes.
Extreme Weather Events In the wake of every killer hurricane, devastating wild fire, severe drought, or once-in-a-century flooding event, it has become commonplace for scientists, politicians, and ordinary citizens to debate whether or not these severe weather events can be tied directly to climate change and global warming. The scientific consensus generally indicates that we are beginning to see upticks in extreme weather due to warming and the resulting shift in weather patterns. Certain politicians, business interests, and energy executives, however, forcefully reject such connections as unproven and speculative. Where does the truth lie? This anthology collects the strongest viewpoints from across the ideological spectrum and the globe and allows readers to evaluate the arguments and evidence for themselves before forming an educated opinion.
Extreme Weather Events and Human Health This edited book assesses the impacts of various extreme weather events on human health and development from a global perspective, and includes several case studies in various geographical regions around the globe.  Covering all continents, it describes the impact of extreme weather conditions such as flash floods, heatwaves, cold waves, droughts, forest fires, strong winds and storms in both developing and developed countries. The contributing authors also investigate the spread of diseases and the risk to food security caused by drought and flooding.  Further, the book discusses the economic damage resulting from natural disasters including hurricanes. It has been estimated that in 2017 natural disasters and climate change resulted in economic losses of 309 billion US dollars. Scientists also predict that if nothing is done to curb the effects of climate change, in Europe the death toll due to weather disasters could rise 50-fold by the end of the 21st century, with extreme heat alone causing more than 150,000 deaths a year, as the report on global warming of 1.5°C warns that China, Russia and Canada's current climate policies would steer the world above a catastrophic 5°C of warming by the end of 2100. As such, the book highlights how the wellbeing of different populations is threatened by extreme events now and in the foreseeable future.
Extreme Weather Hits Home : Protecting Your Buildings from Climate Change We know how to prepare our homes for each seasonal change, but do we know how to prepare for climate change? Violent weather events like floods, tornadoes, ice storms, and hurricanes only tell part of the story. Climate change is frequently more subtle, but its effects on our homes and properties can still be devastating. Nearly 50 percent of North America has a potential for structural damage from shifting moisture in expansive clay soils, a condition that is already costing billions of dollars each year. Humidity is projected to increase, trapping moisture in wall cavities and resulting in deterioration. As the climate changes and moisture levels adjust, there are a number of proactive steps that can be taken to prevent or lessen expensive repairs. Extreme Weather is the only book of its kind that shows how to protect your home or business from climate change by focusing on the following areas: Risk and causal assessment, due to region and soil Extreme weather's rapid and slow effects Site, foundation, wall, and roof considerations and modifications Insurance options Anticipated changes for the United States, Canada, and Mexico Our homes are one of the most expensive investments we will ever make. They are also our refuge from the elements, and we must protect them so they can protect us. This book is a valuable resource for all property owners. John C. Banta is an indoor environmental consultant with twenty years of experience in building biology, building science, and indoor environmental quality.
Natural Hazards and Disasters This two-volume encyclopedia provides the science behind such heart-pumping geophysical hazards as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, cyclones, and floods, as well as authoritative entries on notable natural disasters around the world and the agencies that help those they impact. Natural Hazards and Disasters explores the sometimes harsh effects of nature on human life. The set discusses the physical science behind specific types of hazards and disasters (such as blizzards and tsunamis), their impact on our lives, how damage is mitigated or prevented, recovery and reconstruction, and the current research and technology used for managing or even eliminating the hazards. Written by experts in the field, the set also explores a variety of extreme events from around the world, including the 2010-2011 Christchurch Earthquakes (New Zealand), the 2017-2018 Thomas Fire (United States), and the 2018 Kerala Floods (India). Also covered are the world's major international and nonprofit aid agencies, like the Salvation Army and Oxfam, that assist disaster victims. Provides thorough coverage of the human and physical factors of 25 natural hazards and disasters, from the causes and physical structure of a disaster to the damage they cause to societies and the technology used to mitigate destruction and eliminate loss of life Examines 75 historic disasters from around the world, their causes, preparedness efforts, warning and evacuation, impact, response and relief efforts, and recovery and reconstruction Provides authoritative content clear to the casual reader and students alike, reflecting the knowledge of hazards experts
Smokescreen : Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate Smokescreen cuts through years of misunderstanding and misdirection to make an impassioned, evidence-based argument for a new era of forest management for the sake of the planet and the human race. Natural fires are as essential as sun and rain in fire-adapted forests, but as humans encroach on wild spaces, fear, arrogance, and greed have shaped the way that people view these regenerative events and given rise to misinformation that threatens whole ecosystems as well as humanity's chances of overcoming the climate crisis. Scientist and activist Chad T. Hanson explains how natural alarm over wildfire has been marshaled to advance corporate and political agendas, notably those of the logging industry. He also shows that, in stark contrast to the fear-driven narrative around these events, contemporary research has demonstrated that forests in the United States, North America, and around the world have a significant deficit of fire. Forest fires, including the largest ones, can create extraordinarily important and rich wildlife habitats as long as they are not subjected to postfire logging. Smokescreen confronts the devastating cost of current policies and practices head-on and ultimately offers a hopeful vision and practical suggestions for the future--one in which both communities and the climate are protected and fires are understood as a natural and necessary force.
Water Always Wins : Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge A hopeful journey around the world and across time, illuminating better ways to live with water.  Nearly every human endeavor on the planet was conceived and constructed with a relatively stable climate in mind. But as new climate disasters remind us every day, our world is not stable--and it is changing in ways that expose the deep dysfunction of our relationship with water. Increasingly severe and frequent floods and droughts inevitably spur calls for higher levees, bigger drains, and longer aqueducts. But as we grapple with extreme weather, a hard truth is emerging: our development, including concrete infrastructure designed to control water, is actually exacerbating our problems. Because sooner or later, water always wins. In this quietly radical book, science journalist Erica Gies introduces us to innovators in what she calls the Slow Water movement who start by asking a revolutionary question: What does water want? Using close observation, historical research, and cutting-edge science, these experts in hydrology, restoration ecology, engineering, and urban planning are already transforming our relationship with water.  Modern civilizations tend to speed water away, erasing its slow phases on the land. Gies reminds us that water's true nature is to flex with the rhythms of the earth: the slow phases absorb floods, store water for droughts, and feed natural systems. Figuring out what water wants--and accommodating its desires within our human landscapes--is now a crucial survival strategy. By putting these new approaches to the test, innovators in the Slow Water movement are reshaping the future.
Also available in print: TD388 .G54 2022

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Betting the Farm on a Drought : stories from the front lines of climate change Climate change has become one of the most polarizing issues of our time. Extremists on the left regularly issue hyperbolic jeremiads about the impending destruction of the environment, while extremists on the right counter with crass, tortured denials. But out in the vast middle are ordinary people dealing with stronger storms and more intense droughts than they've ever known. This middle ground is the focus of Betting the Farm on a Drought, a lively, thought-provoking book that lays out the whole story of climate change--the science, the math, and most importantly, the human stories of people fighting both the climate and their own deeply held beliefs to find creative solutions to a host of environmental challenges. Seamus McGraw takes us on a trip along America's culturally fractured back roads and listens to farmers and ranchers and fishermen, many of them people who are not ideologically, politically, or in some cases even religiously inclined to believe in man-made global climate change. He shows us how they are already being affected and the risks they are already taking on a personal level to deal with extreme weather and its very real consequences for their livelihoods. McGraw also speaks to scientists and policymakers who are trying to harness that most renewable of American resources, a sense of hope and self-reliance that remains strong in the face of daunting challenges. By bringing these voices together, Betting the Farm on a Drought ultimately becomes a model for how we all might have a pragmatic, reasoned conversation about our changing climate.
The Big Ones : How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them) By the world-renowned seismologist, a riveting history of natural disasters, their impact on our culture, and new ways of thinking about the ones to come Earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanoes--they stem from the same forces that give our planet life. Earthquakes give us natural springs; volcanoes produce fertile soil. It is only when these forces exceed our ability to withstand them that they become disasters. Together they have shaped our cities and their architecture; elevated leaders and toppled governments; influenced the way we think, feel, fight, unite, and pray. The history of natural disasters is a history of ourselves. In The Big Ones, leading seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones offers a bracing look at some of the world's greatest natural disasters, whose reverberations we continue to feel today. At Pompeii, Jones explores how a volcanic eruption in the first century AD challenged prevailing views of religion. She examines the California floods of 1862 and the limits of human memory. And she probes more recent events--such as the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and the American hurricanes of 2017--to illustrate the potential for globalization to humanize and heal. With population in hazardous regions growing and temperatures around the world rising, the impacts of natural disasters are greater than ever before. The Big Ones is more than just a work of history or science; it is a call to action. Natural hazards are inevitable; human catastrophes are not. With this energizing and exhaustively researched book, Dr. Jones offers a look at our past, readying us to face down the Big Ones in our future.
Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis Part memoir, part expert analysis, Disasterology is a passionate and personal account of a country in crisis--one unprepared to deal with the disasters of today and those looming in our future. With temperatures rising and the risk of disasters growing, our world is increasingly vulnerable. Most people see disasters as freak, natural events that are unpredictable and unpreventable. But that simply isn't the case - disasters are avoidable, but when they do strike, there are strategic ways to manage the fallout. In Disasterology, Dr. Montano, a disaster researcher, brings readers with her on an eye-opening journey through some of our worst disasters, helping readers make sense of what really happened from a emergency management perspective. She explains why we aren't doing enough to prevent or prepare for disasters, the critical role of media, and how our approach to recovery was not designed to serve marginalized communities. Now that climate change is contributing to the disruption of ecosystems and worsening disasters, Dr. Montano offers a preview of what will happen to our communities if we don't take aggressive, immediate action. In a section devoted to the COVID-19 pandemic, what is thus far our generation's most deadly disaster, she casts light on the many decisions made behind closed doors that failed to protect the public. A deeply moving and timely narrative that draws on Dr. Montano's first-hand experience in emergency management, Disasterology is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how our country handles disasters, and how we can better face them together.
Drought, Flood, Fire: How Climate Change Contributes to Catastrophes Every year, droughts, floods, and fires impact hundreds of millions of people and cause massive economic losses. Climate change is making these catastrophes more dangerous. Now. Not in the future: NOW. This book describes how and why climate change is already fomenting dire consequences, and will certainly make climate disasters worse in the near future. Chris C. Funk combines the latest science with compelling stories, providing a timely, accessible, and beautifully-written synopsis of this critical topic. The book describes our unique and fragile Earth system, and the negative impacts humans are having on our support systems. It then examines recent disasters, including heat waves, extreme precipitation, hurricanes, fires, El Niños and La Niñas, and their human consequences. By clearly describing the dangerous impacts that are already occurring, Funk provides a clarion call for social change, yet also conveys the beauty and wonder of our planet, and hope for our collective future.
Extreme Weather : a guide to surviving flash floods, severe snowstorms, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters Flash floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, mudslides, thunderstorms, and wildfires - these devastating events are happening around the world at an alarming rate. As a Meteorologist on CNN and HLN, Bonnie Schneider reports on these natural disasters, explaining when they're likely to strike, and telling viewers how to respond when they do. In Extreme Weather, Schneider distills that information into a guide for readers. She interviews experts from a wide variety of agencies - including FEMA and NOAA - to provide a comprehensive understanding of the science behind weather patterns and the latest thinking on how to act in dangerous conditions. Ranging from topics that cover every season and every climate, Schneider introduces the reader to the best course of action during weather emergencies, including: *how to handle extreme weather scenarios in your car, outside, on a boat or at home *how to prepare for potential dangers, such as deadly lightning, when planning a camping trip, vacation or sports outing *what you need to have at home to protect against floods, earthquakes, or severe storms *how to protect your home from rapidly spreading wildfire *how to create a family evacuation plan for different emergencies *making sure your beloved pet is taken care of in time of disaster Drawing on actual survivor stories,Extreme Weather reminds readers that disaster can strike at any time, changing your life forever. *making sure your beloved pet is taken care of in time of disaster Drawing on actual survivor stories,Extreme Weather reminds readers that disaster can strike at any time, changing your life forever.
Extreme Weather and Climate Change Hot weather is getting hotter while hurricanes, droughts, floods, and forest fires are increasing in intensity. Extreme Weather and Climate Change: What's the Connection? explores the science behind recent weather-related disasters and explains the role climate-changing emissions play in the recent record-shattering weather extremes.
The geography of risk : epic storms, rising seas, and the cost of America's coasts This century has seen the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history--but who bears the brunt of these monster storms? Consider this: Five of the most expensive hurricanes in history have made landfall since 2005: Katrina ($160 billion), Ike ($40 billion), Sandy ($72 billion), Harvey ($125 billion), and Maria ($90 billion). With more property than ever in harm's way, and the planet and oceans warming dangerously, it won't be long before we see a $250 billion hurricane. Why? Because Americans have built $3 trillion worth of property in some of the riskiest places on earth: barrier islands and coastal floodplains. And they have been encouraged to do so by what Gilbert M. Gaul reveals inThe Geography of Riskto be a confounding array of federal subsidies, tax breaks, low-interest loans, grants, and government flood insurance that shift the risk of life at the beach from private investors to public taxpayers, radically distorting common notions of risk. These federal incentives, Gaul argues, have resulted in one of the worst planning failures in American history, and the costs to taxpayers are reaching unsustainable levels. We have become responsible for a shocking array of coastal amenities: new roads, bridges, buildings, streetlights, tennis courts, marinas, gazebos, and even spoiled food after hurricanes.TheGeography of Risk will forever change the way you think about the coasts, from the clash between economic interests and nature, to the heated politics of regulators and developers.
Running Out of Time: Wildfires and Our Imperiled Forests Of all the natural disasters we face on Earth, a wildfire is the only catastrophe that is controllable--and in many cases, predictable. Costing thousands of lives each year and as much as $300 billion annually in the United States alone, wildfires are fueled by human behavior, environmental factors, and in many cases, the mismanagement, ineptitude, and lack of candor by governmental agencies. Running Out of Time: Wildfires and Our Imperiled Forests is the culmination of more than 10 years of extensive research, expert interviews, and personal experience. It exposes the inexplicable policies, practices, and deception of the federal agencies responsible for the nation's forest oversight, revealing dangerous vulnerabilities in current wildfire suppression systems and forest management practices. Beyond the exhaustive and comprehensive discussion of the root causes and history of wildfires in the U.S., David Auchterlonie and Jeffrey Lehman also provide solutions that can save lives, land, property, and the environment. Both a national and a global threat, the wildfires that make headlines do not exist in isolation, and have drastic consequences for neighboring countries and our collective resources that influence everything from trade to what families eat at night. Despite the challenges ahead, Running Out of Time remains forward-looking and solutions-oriented.
Storm Surge : Hurricane Sandy, our changing climate, and extreme weather of the past and future A renowned scientist takes us through the devastating and unprecedented events of Hurricane Sandy, using it to explain our planet's changing climate, and what we need to do to protect ourselves and our cities for the future. Was Hurricane Sandy a freak event--or a harbinger of things to come?  Was climate change responsible?  What connects the spiraling clouds our satellites saw from space, the brackish water that rose up over the city's seawalls, and the slow simmer of greenhouse gases? Why weren't we better prepared? In this fascinating and accessible work of popular science, atmospheric scientist and Columbia University professor Adam Sobel addresses these questions, combining scientific explanation with first-hand experience of the event itself. He explains the remarkable atmospheric conditions that gave birth to Sandy and determined its path. He gives us insight into the sophisticated science that led to the forecasts of the storm before it hit, as well as an understanding of why our meteorological vocabulary failed our leaders in warning us about this unprecedented storm--part hurricane, part winter-type nor'easter, fully deserving of the title "Superstorm." Storm Surge brings together the melting glaciers, the shifting jet streams, and the warming oceans to make clear how our changing climate will make New York and other cities more vulnerable than ever to huge storms--and how we need to think differently about these long-term risks if we hope to mitigate the damage. Engaging, informative, and timely, Sobel's book provokes us to rethink the future of our climate and how we can better prepare for the storms to come.
The Weather of the Future : heat waves, extreme storms, and other scenes from a climate-changed planet From Heidi Cullen, one of America's foremost experts on weather and climate change and a senior research scientist with Climate Central, comesThe Weather of the Future, a fascinating and provocative book that predicts what different parts of the world will look like in the year 2050 if current levels of carbon emissions are maintained.