Judging Extreme Weather: Climate Science in Action

Written by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes, this book addresses the reality of extreme weather―how it occurs, how we measure it, and what it means for our future.

Weather affects everybody, and with the increasing impact of climate change and the prevalence of storms, droughts and floods, it is clear that we are affecting all aspects of weather. Consequently, people love to talk about weather, complain about it, argue about it―and be intrigued by it. Twenty-four/seven coverage of the weather, however, has helped foster a tendency for marked overstatement―the creation of misconceptions, exaggerations and, frankly, even outright lies. Leading expert in weather and climate, Randy Cerveny, draws on his extensive experience with the WMO and personal research to give the reader a behind-the-scenes look at how weather and climate extremes are recorded and defined. He unpacks the science behind these extremes through a number of specific WMO investigations that span a diverse range of countries and weather events, including lightning, rain, hurricanes and tornadoes. Cerveny balances these factual accounts with playful interludes that detail bizarre and intriguing weather-related stories and anecdotes.

This compelling book is a must read for all those interested in the science behind extreme weather.

Knowledge Exchange Quick Takes featuring Professor Randall Cerveny to discuss Weather Extremes. (youtube.com)

Randy Cerveny is a President’s Professor in Geographical Sciences who specializes in weather and climate at Arizona State University. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1987, has studied weather around the world, and has stood on all seven continents. His research has ranged from studying the weather associated with prison escapes to weather of the far future. His research has garnered the attention of the BBC, CNN, ABC News, NPR and others. He was an expert for the Weather Channel and currently appears on the National Geographic’s show What on Earth? His first book, Freaks of the Storm, was published in 2006 while his second book, Weather’s Greatest Mysteries Solved!, was published in 2009. Since 2007 he has served as the World Meteorological Organization’s Rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes, the person in charge of assessing and validating world extremes, such as world’s hottest temperature.