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Dossier: Climate Change and Natural Disasters

August 25, 2009

Whether they are earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, flooding or droughts, the idea that climate change and global warming are causing more frequent or more dramatic natural catastrophes is gaining in momentum.

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Image: AP

When natural changes to the Earth's surface or in the atmosphere result in devastating consequences, we call them natural disasters. Whether they are earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, flooding or typhoons, the idea that climate change and global warming are causing more frequent or more dramatic natural catastrophes is gaining in momentum.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Satellite image of hurricane (Source: AP)

Natural disasters

It is not clear if climate change affects the number and magnitude of natural catastrophes.
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Ariel view of a hurricane

Warmer temperatures could increase storm severity, expert says

Over the past decade, storms have been increasing across the planet, but how many are due to climate change and how many are part of the natural cycle is up for debate.
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Learning from disaster

In 2002 Germany was hit by heavy flooding. Now researchers develop new ways of measuring risk.
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