Economist Podcasts Twister of fate? Tornadoes and climate change
Dec 14, 2021
Oliver Morton, a Briefings and Essays Editor at The Economist, analyzes the complex ties between climate change and tornado occurrences in the Upland South. He highlights the increasing frequency of these disasters and their implications for severe weather patterns. Greg Karlstrom, The Economist's Middle East correspondent, discusses the evolving citizenship policies in Gulf states for expatriates, focusing on recent changes that favor a small elite. They also touch on the cultural transformation of Britain's iconic red phone boxes, from communication tools to trendy cafes.
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Upland South Tornado Devastation
- Tornadoes devastated the Upland South, crossing state lines and leaving a trail of destruction.
- The event, occurring at night, is considered unusual due to its long path and timing in December.
Tornadoes and Climate Change: A Complex Relationship
- While some atmospheric conditions linked to tornadoes are changing due to climate change, directly attributing this specific event is complex.
- America's geography makes it prone to tornadoes, and while some patterns are shifting, the overall number of severe tornadoes hasn't significantly increased.
Climate Change's Broad Impact vs. Specific Events
- Focusing on whether a specific event was caused by climate change distracts from understanding the broader impact of human actions on the planet.
- Tornadoes' localized nature makes it difficult to connect them to broad climate change trends, even if some related conditions are changing.