Three Extreme Events That Were Not Possible in a Preindustrial Climate

This sixth edition of explaining extreme events of the previous year (2016) from a climate perspective is the first of these reports to find that some extreme events were not possible in a preindustrial climate.

8. The High Latitude Marine Heat Wave of 2016 and Its Impacts on Alaska
8. The High Latitude Marine Heat Wave of 2016 and Its Impacts on Alaska

The 2016 Alaska marine heat wave was unprecedented in terms of sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content, and CMIP5 data suggest human-induced climate change has greatly increased the risk of such anomalies.

3. CMIP5 Model-based Assessment of Anthropogenic Influence on Record Global Warmth during 2016
3. CMIP5 Model-based Assessment of Anthropogenic Influence on Record Global Warmth during 2016

According to CMIP5 simulations, the 2016 record global warmth was only possible due to substantial centennial-scale anthropogenic warming. Natural variability made a smaller contribution to the January–December 2016 annual-mean global temperature anomaly.

19. Climate Change Increased the Likelihood of the 2016 Heat Extremes in Asia
19. Climate Change Increased the Likelihood of the 2016 Heat Extremes in Asia

The 2016 extreme warmth across Asia would not have been possible without climate change. The 2015/16 El Niño also contributed to regional warm extremes over Southeast Asia and the Maritime Continent.