ClimaMeter: contextualizing extreme weather in a changing climate

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge with multiple far-reaching consequences, including the intensification and increased frequency of many extreme-weather events. In response to this pressing issue, we present ClimaMeter, a platform designed to assess and contextualize extreme-weather events relative to climate change. The platform offers near-real-time insights into the dynamics of extreme events, serving as a resource for researchers and policymakers while also being a science dissemination tool for the general public. ClimaMeter currently analyses heatwaves, cold spells, heavy precipitation, and windstorms. This paper elucidates the methodology, data sources, and analytical techniques on which ClimaMeter relies, providing a comprehensive overview of its scientific foundation. We further present two case studies: the late 2023 French heatwave and the July 2023 Storm Poly. We use two distinct datasets for each case study, namely Multi-Source Weather (MSWX) data, which serve as the reference for our rapid-attribution protocol, and the ERA5 dataset, widely regarded as the leading global climate reanalysis. These examples highlight both the strengths and limitations of ClimaMeter in expounding the link between climate change and the dynamics of extreme-weather events.