How to be a cloud detective

 

What's the difference between weather and climate?

 

With extreme weather events on the rise, Reality Check's Chris Morris unpacks the difference and relationship between weather and climate.

Is climate change the burning issue in Australia?

Raging bushfires in Australia reignite the debate over climate change, with the government accused of not doing enough.

Bushfires are common during the summer in Australia, but firefighters said this year's conditions are catastrophic.

At least eight people have been killed since September, including two firefighters who died on Thursday when their truck was hit by a falling tree.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison cut short his holiday to Hawaii and issued a rare public apology in response to mounting anger.

Australia's not alone in having to deal with ferocious fires this year. There were more than 1,600 recorded in Europe, large parts of the Amazon rainforest have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of hectares of land and hundreds of buildings in California.

Why the US has so many tornadoes

The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country, averaging over 1,200 per year. Most of those twisters are touching down in the central part of the country in an area called “Tornado Alley.” While the boundaries of this tornado hotbed are disputed, there’s no denying that something is going on here — and it all has to do with geography.

BEGIN Japanology - Snow

Investigating the numerous failures that led to the worst fire in the Mediterranean country's modern history.

Like many countries around the Mediterranean, Greece suffers from dangerous summer wildfires, but the one that tore along its Attica coast in July 2018 was the worst in the country’s history - claiming 99 lives and leaving thousands of others injured, traumatised and homeless.

"I don't know who to be angry with - angry with God? Angry with people? Angry with myself?" says firefighter Andreas Dimitriou. While he fought to protect others, his wife and baby son were killed by the inferno at home.

Elsewhere, 100kph winds enveloped the gridlocked roads of Mati, a popular resort at the heart of the disaster, catching day trippers in their cars and residents in their homes and defeating the efforts of the emergency services battling the blaze with elderly vehicles, redundant equipment and self-bought uniforms.

Thailand's Miracle Cave Rescue

The extraordinary inside story of the rescue of a young Thai football team from Tham Luang cave in Thailand.

It was supposed to be a day trip - 12 young boys and their football coach exploring the rugged mountains of northern Thailand and the Tham Luang cave. But instead, they disappeared.

Tham Luang is a 10-kilometre long limestone cave system with deep recesses and narrow passageways. Most of the year, it's relatively dry. But when the monsoon comes, it quickly fills with water, making the caves impossible to enter. Or to leave.

Within 24 hours of the boys going missing, a search operation was under way. The boys' bikes and backpacks were found near the entrance to the cave. Distraught family members gathered.

Why is it so hot? – video explainer

As the northern hemisphere endures record-breaking temperatures, scientists and meteorologists are looking at the possible causes. Climate change is partly responsible, but the summer has also featured unusual jet stream activity, which is bringing the subtropical heat north 

Climate change: Coping with extremes

We travel to southern Kenya and Myanmar to see how locals are coping with extreme weather conditions.

Navigating drought in Kenya

In drought-stricken Kenya life for all residents, and particularly the herding community, has been nothing less than devastating. Erratic weather patterns and the increasing effects of climate change have led to a lack of vegetation and water resources jeopardising the survival of livestock and the pastoralist way of life.

Investigating Katrina: Lessons learned from the storm

Over a decade after the historic storm, we investigate what went wrong and plans for future prevention and control.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina claimed 1,800 lives, leaving 80 percent of New Orleans devastated and under water. Only one line of defence, the levee, failed the city. Since the disastrous storm hit, there have been concerted efforts to reduce risks from another possible Katrina.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been responsible for the city's structural defence since the 1920s. Mike Park, chief of operations, explains that after Katrina, a more robust defence system - the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) - was built.

How will the Northwest Passage influence global trade?

China says it wants merchant ships to use this alternative route that has been opened up by climate change.

Global warming may be the reason behind rising sea levels, extreme weather conditions and deaths of Arctic animals.

But while the environment suffers, the shipping industry has seen a massive new opportunity.

The melting ice is opening up a new trade route through the Arctic Ocean, which China and other countries are planning to benefit from.

The newly navigable Northwest Passage connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Shipping Industry leaders in China say the route shortens the journey by 30 percent.

But what claim does China and others have on this region?