Global News Podcast - Extreme Weather Special Summary

Release Date: January 21, 2025
Host/Author: BBC World Service
Description: The day’s top stories from BBC News, including the latest from Gaza, on US politics and about the Ukraine conflict. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends.

Introduction

In this special edition of the Global News Podcast, the BBC World Service delves into the escalating issue of extreme weather events worldwide. Hosted by Alex Ritson, the episode features insights from the BBC Weather Team, including meteorologist Chris Fawkes, technology editor Zoe Kleinman, climate expert Graer Jackson from The Climate Question, Marco Silva from BBC Verify, and Myra Anubi from the People Fixing the World podcast. The discussion centers on the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena, all while exploring the pivotal role of climate change.

Current Extreme Weather Events

The podcast opens with an urgent reminder of recent and ongoing extreme weather disasters:

• Los Angeles Wildfires: Two weeks into the LA wildfires, the situation remains dire with “over half a million people in urgent need of food and drinking water” (02:35).

• Hurricane Helene: Described as “the deadliest hurricane to reach the mainland United States since Hurricane Katrina” (07:54), Helene caused catastrophic flooding, particularly in Tennessee and North Carolina.

• Amazon Drought in Brazil: A severe drought exacerbated by climate change and El Niño has led to river levels hitting their lowest in decades (09:10).

• Valencia Flooding in Spain: Record-breaking rainfall resulted in flash floods that claimed over 220 lives and raised questions about the effectiveness of local weather forecasting (10:22).

Detailed Examination of Extreme Weather Events

Los Angeles Wildfires

Chris Fawkes explains the confluence of factors leading to the wildfires:

• Drought Conditions: "Between May 2024 and now, they've had just four millimeters of rain… leading to severe drought conditions” (04:57).
• Wind Patterns: The Santorana wind phenomenon, characterized by “gusts up to about 99 miles an hour,” exacerbated the fire spread (05:50).
• Climate Change Impact: Fawkes cites that “19 out of 20 of the largest wildfires in California have occurred since 2003” (06:31), highlighting the link to increasing droughts in a warming world.

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene's unprecedented intensity is discussed:

• Rapid Intensification: "Winds pick up by 35 miles an hour in 24 hours,” making it stronger than typical Category 4 hurricanes (07:54).
• Aftermath: Despite weakening inland, the storm caused "enormous falls of rain… leading to catastrophic flooding" (07:54).
• Fatalities: Helene became the deadliest hurricane since Katrina, with significant loss of life due to flooding (09:05).

Amazon Drought in Brazil

The drought's causes and effects are explored:

• Climate Change and El Niño: "Temperatures globally are about 1.3 degrees Celsius higher… coupled with El Niño” (09:10).
• Recovery Efforts: Although the rainy season is beginning, Fawkes notes that “climate change does increase the risk of such droughts” (10:04).

Valencia Flooding in Spain

Valencia's devastating floods are scrutinized:

• Record Rainfall: “491 millimeters of rain… in just eight hours” led to severe flooding (10:22).
• Forecasting Challenges: Fawkes critiques the local forecasting authority’s preparation, despite issuing top-level warnings (12:51).
• Historical Context: Comparisons to past floods in 1957 and 1982 illustrate the increasing severity of such events (10:22).

Weather Prediction Technology

Chris Fawkes provides an inside look at weather forecasting:

• Computer Models: The BBC Weather Centre relies on “computer models that model the atmosphere,” utilizing the UK Met Office supercomputer capable of “14,000 trillion sums a second” (13:43).
• Forecasting Process: These models analyze “215 billion weather observations every day” to simulate future weather conditions (13:43).
• Human Expertise: Despite advanced models, forecasters like Fawkes must interpret data and adjust predictions based on real-time observations (14:40).

The Future with Artificial Intelligence

Marco Silva introduces advancements in AI-driven weather prediction:

• Gencast by Google DeepMind: Silva highlights Gencast, an AI tool that “performed 20% better in tests than the current world leader” in weather forecasting, especially for extreme events (16:24).
• Efficiency and Accuracy: Gencast can process forecasts in “eight minutes,” surpassing traditional supercomputers in speed (16:24).
• Environmental Concerns: Silva points out the "energy hungry" nature of AI, raising questions about its sustainability amidst climate challenges (18:55).

Fawkes remains cautiously optimistic, acknowledging that while AI shows promise, “it is early days” and its daily forecasting impact is yet to be fully realized (19:46).

Understanding Weather vs. Climate

Graer Jackson from The Climate Question clarifies the distinction:

• Timescale: Weather refers to short-term conditions (days to weeks), while climate encompasses long-term averages (years to decades) (21:47).
• Drivers: Climate change is “solely driven by human behavior,” such as burning fossil fuels, leading to a “1.6 degrees warmer” planet compared to pre-industrial times (21:47).

Linking Climate Change to Extreme Weather

The episode discusses how climate change amplifies extreme weather:

• Heatwaves and Fires: Increased temperatures lead to "longer lasting heat waves" that dry out vegetation, creating tinderbox conditions for wildfires (22:45).
• Heavy Rainfall: "For every 1 degree of rise in average temperature, we see about 7% more moisture in the atmosphere," resulting in more intense rainfall (22:45).
• Scientific Attribution: Advances in attributing specific events to climate change allow scientists to determine how much human-induced warming has increased the likelihood of such events (24:57).

Impact of Extreme Weather

Graer Jackson emphasizes the profound effects:

• Economic Costs: A report by the International Chamber of Commerce estimates the cost of weather-related disasters at “US$2 trillion” over the past decade (26:31).
• Human Toll: The World Health Organization projects that climate change will cause “a quarter of a million more deaths per year” between 2030 and 2050 due to conditions like undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress (26:31).
• Disproportionate Effects: The poorest populations bear the brunt, lacking resources for evacuation, rebuilding, or insurance (25:51).

Climate Change Misinformation

Marco Silva and Graer Jackson address the rise of climate denial:

• Conspiracy Theories: Claims that extreme weather events like hurricanes are “engineered” lack credible evidence but gain traction online (29:37).
• Impact on Policy: Misinformation “could effectively delay very important, very urgent action” needed to combat climate change by eroding public support (33:15).
• Harassment of Experts: Weather presenters like Fawkes face harassment from individuals spreading false narratives, affecting their work and mental well-being (34:22).

Solutions and Mitigation Efforts

Myra Anubi from People Fixing the World highlights innovative approaches:

• Technological Innovations: Companies are developing “smart technology” to detect wildfires early and deploy drones with acoustic wave technology to suppress fires safely (38:04).
• Animal-Based Prevention: Initiatives like the wild horse fire brigade in North America and the use of cows in Spain reduce vegetation that fuels wildfires by “eating and trampling” it (39:36).
• Flood Management: Projects such as “sponge cities” in Singapore and Mexico absorb and purify excess rainwater, while river re-wiggling in the UK restores natural water flow to prevent rapid runoff and flooding (40:34).

Individual Actions

Chris Fawkes advises on personal preparedness:

• Flood-Proofing Homes: Installing tiles instead of soft furnishings on floors and elevating electrical sockets can reduce damage and speed up recovery after floods (43:15).

Conclusion

The Global News Podcast emphasizes the urgent need to address extreme weather through a combination of advanced forecasting, combating climate change, and implementing innovative mitigation strategies. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast through feedback, ensuring that such critical discussions continue to inform and empower the public.

Notable Quotes:

• Chris Fawkes (05:50): “Once these fires started, they spread very, very quickly, not just across the vegetated areas, but throughout whole communities.”

• Marco Silva (16:24): “Gencast managed to process its forecast in eight minutes, which is considerably faster, isn't it?”

• Graer Jackson (25:51): “Extreme weather is becoming more likely and more extreme in a warmer world.”

• Graer Jackson (34:22): “Weather presenters all around the world have been reporting harassment and attacks by people on social media who say, you are lying to us about the real causes of the weather.”

Further Engagement:

For comments or feedback on this episode, listeners can email globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk or find the podcast on X (formerly Twitter) at @globalnewspod. The team encourages suggestions for more regular weather specials to continue exploring this vital topic.

Produced by Anna Murphy, mixed by Jack Gr, and edited by Karen Martin.