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Insurance giant says natural disasters becoming more frequent

The number of natural disasters in the United States (pdf) has more than doubled since 1980 according to a new report released by Munich Re, one of the largest reinsurance companies in the world.

This graph says it all:

 

(Click image to enlarge)
 
The total number of disasters as of June 30, 2008 already exceeds the average number of disasters recorded at mid-year over the past decade. Although 2008 is not on pace to eclipse 2007 as registering the most natural disasters ever, an especially active Atlantic hurricane season is expected.

Natural Disasters and Climate Change

While climate change cannot be linked to any individual weather event, it is widely accepted that warmer temperatures associated with climate change cause more extreme weather. "The year is following the long-term trend towards more weather catastrophes, which is influenced by climate change," said Torsten Jeworrek, a Munich Re board member.

On climate change and natural disasters Joe Romm at Climate Progress recently wrote that:

"… the tornados and floods battering the country with almost unimaginable severity are the early tantrums of an angry planet. Under this reading, this season of natural disasters shows that climate change has arrived ahead of schedule, much to the disappointment of those who hoped that fire, drought, violent weather and the other predicted impacts of global warming were a problem only for future generations."

In last year's final report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's top climate scientists concluded (pdf.) that human influences have:

- very likely contributed to sea level rise during the latter half of the 20th century.

- likely contributed to changes in wind patters, affecting extra-tropical storm tracks and temperature patterns.

- likely increased temperatures of extreme hot nights, cold nights and cold days.

- more likely than not increased rick of heat waves, area affected by drought since the 1970's and frequency of heavy precipitation events.

The IPCC scientists use a "liklihood scale" when drawing conclusions in their reports:

Virtually likely means more than 99% probability of occurence.

Very likely means more than 90% probability

Likely means more than 66% probability

About as likely as not means 33 to 66% probability

Unlikely means less than 33% probability



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When it comes objective data, if you can't trust an insurance company, who can you trust? After all, it's not like they make money on this by selling insurance.

Uh, oh, wait a second ...

A nice deconstruction of Munich Re's hysteria mongering:

Cashing in on calamity

http://tinyurl.com/64mzwx

I posted once before in regards to climate change bringing about more extreme weather events. It is afterall one of those predicted outcomes of climate change/global warming. A greater energy imbalance within the system is going to lead to more powerful weather events. Not surprised at all to see this. Do you know of how this differs from more northern countries or southern? I recall reading model predictions for greater relative stability in the tropics and less relative weather stability in the more temperate climates. Anyone know?

See also Swiss Re, they've been on this for a long time.
http://www.swissre.com/pws/about%20us/knowledge_expertise/top%20topics/climate%20change/climate%20change.html

Under this reading, this season of natural disasters shows that climate change has arrived ahead of schedule, much to the disappointment of those who hoped that fire, drought, violent weather and the other predicted impacts of global warming were a problem only for future generations.

 

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We can certainly see more Natural Disasters and Climate Change happening in the world today.
I think we will continue to see more and more up coming in the years to come.
We should all be living by the golden rule and treating our planet, animals, people etc.. the way we would like to be treated and maybe we could correct some of these things.

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http://www.insurewish.com/cheap-auto-insurance-rates.php

Your congress member may be like mine here in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District, Congressman Tom Perriello. He has not taken a position, and has frequently expressed his belief on this and other issues that the president will be the decider. Of course he's right that, to a great extent, we now have a monarchical rather than a legislative government. But we don't have to accept it The people of this district, like yours, are not well represented by someone who informs us of what the president is doing. A journalist could do that. We are only truly

I think it's a good thing people are choosing this type of insurance, because we are living uncertain times and it's always a good idea to have a life insurance that offers protection from natural disasters, but before taking out life insurance be sure to look for Life Insurance Advice
on the internet.

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