83. Scientists Predict More Severe Storms Worldwide

As the world’s population grows¹, extreme weather² conditions affect more and more people³. The weather events may include flooding⁴, powerful storms⁵ and droughts⁶ – or lack of rain⁷. Many scientists are predicting⁸ that, while⁹ the number of storms may not increase¹⁰, their strength¹¹ will.

The issue¹² is of interest to officials with the Aquarium of the Pacific in Los Angeles, California. The aquarium is using a federal government program to help educate people about the effects of extreme weather. Mark Jackson is a weather expert¹³ with NOAA -- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

“Extreme weather is the norm¹⁴ across the globe. There are¹⁵ certain things such as¹⁶ heat waves¹⁷, such as droughts, and in some parts of the globe heavy precipitation¹⁸, that we are seeing an increase in these events.”

But other scientists say extreme weather is here to stay. Glen MacDonald is a professor of geography at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Places which are dry¹⁹ are probably going to get dryer²⁰ globally. Places which are already²¹ wet²² are probably going to get wetter. They’re going to get the precipitation we’re missing out²³ on.”

Mark Jackson says the number of hurricanes²⁴ and typhoons²⁵ has not increased over the past 50 years²⁶. But he says those storms have become²⁷ more powerful, and he believes that will continue. Professor MacDonald is careful about²⁸ predicting extreme weather events. He says scientists have just 150 years of weather records²⁹ to examine.

“In terms of attributing, in terms of general hurricane system, the general flood system, the general drought system that precipitation events have become more extreme or something like that³⁰ I just don’t think we have the statistics to show that generalization is true right now³¹.”

Scientists do agree³² that weather events such as storms and droughts will continue to happen. They say reducing the production of greenhouse³³ gases could help, but that takes time³⁴. Studies have linked³⁵ such gases to rising³⁶ temperatures in earth’s atmosphere.

A way of predicting³⁷ weather for a period longer than³⁸ 14 days could help reduce the costly³⁹ effects of extreme weather. Mr. Jackson says NOAA is developing⁴⁰ a program that he hopes⁴¹ will be successful⁴² in predicting the weather between 15 and 30 days into the future. 

“It’s very possible and it’s something that can be a very powerful tool⁴³ to help us better adapt and be prepared for these extreme events.” Jerry Schubel is the president of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Los Angeles. He says people must understand the seriousness of⁴⁴ extreme weather, and take action⁴⁵ when such weather is predicted.

“Improved forecast⁴⁶ and longer warning times⁴⁷ are of little value unless⁴⁸ they are heeded⁴⁹.” NOAA has developed an educational program it calls “Science on a Sphere⁵⁰.” The federal agency hopes the program will help people better understand the environment⁵¹ and the planet, including storms, climate change⁵², and ocean temperature. It shows videos on a large model of the Earth⁵³.

Mr. Schubel says severe weather affects everyone everywhere⁵⁴. “There’s no place⁵⁵ in the world that is immune.” More than 100 museums and other buildings around the world are using the program to educate people about extreme weather.

People in Europe, Asia and North and South America are learning about⁵⁶ the environment and how to live on our quickly-changing⁵⁷ planet. I’m Jonathan Evans

Vocabulary

1. As the world’s population grows = À medida em que a população mundial cresce
2. weather = clima
3. more and more people = cada vez mais pessoas
4. flooding = enchentes
5. storms = tempestades
6. droughts = secas
7. lack of rain = falta de chuva
8. predicting = prevendo
9. while = enquanto
10. may not increase = pode não aumentar
11. strength = força
12. issue = questão
13. expert = especialista
14. norm = regra
15. There are = existem
16. certain things such as = certas coisas tais como
17. heat waves = ondas de calor
18. heavy precipitation = chuva forte
19. dry = seco
20. get dryer = ficar mais seco
21. already = já
22. wet = úmido
23. missing out = perdendo, sentindo falta
24. hurricanes = furacões
25. typhoons = tufões
26. over the past 50 years = ao longo dos ultimos 50 anos
27. have become = tem se tornado
28. careful about = cuidadoso a respeito de
29. weather records = registros climaticos
30. something like that = algo assim
31. right now = já, neste momento
32. agree = concordam
33. greenhouse = efeito estufa
34. takes time = leva tempo
35. have linked = tem vinculado
36. rising = crescente
37. A way of predicting = uma forma de prever
38. longer than = mais longo que
39. costly = caro, custoso
40. developing = desenvolvendo
41. hopes = espera (tem esperança)
42. will be successful = será bem sucedido
43. very powerful tool = ferramenta muito poderosa
44. must understand the seriousness of = devem entender a seriedade
45. take action = agir, tomar atitude
46. Improved forecast = melhoria da previsão
47. warning times = tempos de alerta
48. unless = a menos que
49. heeded = atendido
50. Sphere = esfera
51. environment = meio ambiente
52. climate change = mudança climática
53. Earth = Planeta Terra
54. affects everyone everywhere = afeta todos em todos os lugares
55. There’s no place = não há nenhum lugar
56. learning about = aprendendo sobre
57. quickly-changing = mudando rapidamente