The Conversation - Making sense of our crazy weather

Dear Reader,

Extreme downpours, flash floods, heat waves, wildfires – you’ve probably experienced one of these disasters or know someone who has. If you’re wondering why the weather seems increasingly extreme, you’re not alone.

It’s easy to get sucked into the misinformation spread on talk radio and social media. If you’re feeling lost, we’re here to help you make sense of it.

I work with researchers who have spent their entire careers studying the environment around us, from the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere to the deep ocean. With The Conversation, they are helping readers make sense of extreme weather and the changing climate.

In just the last week, they explained the heat dome that left more than half the U.S. population roasting, and the conditions that combined to create one of the most violent springs for tornadoes on record. They’ll be watching what forecasters expect to be an overactive hurricane season unfolding in the Atlantic, and providing insight into our increasingly worrying wildfire seasons in the West.

Together, we explain these phenomena in ways everyone can understand and relate to. When disasters hit, we explain what the evidence shows – and make clear what still isn’t known. We talk about why the climate is changing and what these changes mean for the lives of our families and neighbors.

And we write about possible solutions and innovation. Brilliant people are making discoveries and working on solutions. We bring you those as well.

We need your support to bring these essential stories to the general public. It’s because of the generosity of our donors that we can make these articles available to everyone without any paywall or advertising – and we make them available to newspapers and websites to reprint at no charge. 

We are grateful to all those who believe in the importance of accurate and evidence-based journalism. 

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