Report Finds Attribution Science Improving for Extreme Weather Events

A report released this week states that attribution science is advancing quickly. Researchers said the improvements allow scientists to connect specific extreme weather events more precisely to global warming. The assessment examined how attribution methods have changed in recent years. It found that faster computing and better data have reduced uncertainty in some studies.

Researchers said the findings could support lawsuits that seek damages for severe events worsened by global warming. The report did not name specific cases or estimate potential financial awards. The assessment noted that courts have begun to consider attribution studies as evidence.

It did not predict how many additional cases might be filed. Attribution science compares observed weather data with computer simulations that include or exclude human-caused emissions. The report said continued improvements in these comparisons could strengthen the scientific basis for damage claims.