The Cool Down
Expert dismantles myth about cold weather: 'That's exactly what scientists have…
One expert explained why a cold snap in July doesn't negate the reality of global warming with the saying "weather does not equal climate."
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AAP FactCheck Explains: Why a Cold Snap Doesn't Negate Global Warming
SYDNEY, Australia – A recent educational video produced by AAP FactCheck has sought to clarify a common public misunderstanding regarding climate change and short-term weather patterns. The video, featuring Susie Dodds, addresses the question, "If climate change is real, then why is it so cold?" This query often arises during colder periods, leading to skepticism about global warming. Dodds meticulously explains the fundamental distinction between 'weather' and 'climate.' Weather, she notes, refers to the immediate atmospheric conditions, such as a cold, windy, or rainy day. Climate, conversely, encompasses long-term weather patterns observed over decades. "A cold snap in July doesn't suddenly erase decades of evidence supporting the reality of global warming," Dodds states, referencing historical temperature anomaly data for Australia and global trends. The video also highlights the paradox of localized cold weather amidst global warming. While some regions, like Australia, may experience winter chills, other parts of the world, specifically the Northern Hemisphere, are simultaneously enduring unprecedented heatwaves. News headlines displayed in the video illustrate this point, detailing "UK heatwave temperatures soar above 32C" and "Fires break out in France as southern Europe heatwave intensifies." Scientists, as Dodds points out, have consistently warned that climate change does not merely signify hotter temperatures. Instead, it predicts a future of more extreme, unpredictable, and chaotic weather events. The video concludes by noting that Australia is increasingly experiencing such phenomena, including severe floods and bushfires, reinforcing the complex and varied impacts of a changing global climate.
