Global warming increases chance of wild weather

Global warming increases chance of wild weather: study
Last Updated Fri, 04 Jul 2003 16:13:45

GENEVA - Global warming is linked with extreme weather conditions, according
to a study by the World Meteorological Organization.

It points to the number of extreme conditions this year. In the United
States, there were 562 tornadoes during May, a record number in any month.

In southwestern France, temperatures soared above 40 C, the highest
temperatures recorded for the month of June.

The extreme heat in India killed at least 1,400 people. Heavy rainfalls in
Sri Lanka caused massive floods and landslides killing at least 300 people
and damaging the land.

"New record extreme events occur every year somewhere in the globe, but in
recent years the number of such extremes have been increasing," the
organization said.

"As the global temperatures continue to warm due to climate change, the
number and intensity of extreme events might increase," it concluded.

But senior climatologist with Environment Canada David Phillips questions
the findings.

"I'm not sure I believe their report," he told CBC News Online. "It's a big
leap to say it's a direct result of climate change."

Phillips acknowledges that all the facts are correct, but he says, "there's
no proof."

"It's all based on anecdotal evidence.needs more data and more analysis," he
said. "You can't always attribute the cause of extreme weather to global
warming."