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When does weather change become climate change?

Heatwaves in Europe, floods in Australia and drought in Africa. CrowdScience listener Geoff wants to know: Is climate change really responsible, or could it just be weather?

Record-breaking heatwaves swept across the Earth鈥檚 northern hemisphere this summer, while Australia experienced flooding and East Africa is enduring its worst drought in decades. Listener Geoff in Australia wants to know: Is climate change really responsible, or could it just be weather?

Presenter Marnie Chesterton goes to Kenya, where the traditional Maasai way of life is at risk following a series of failed rainy seasons. She meets members of the Maasai community who have herded cattle for generations, who tell her how the unprecedented lack of rain is making it difficult to feed the animals, and themselves.

She speaks to meteorologists and climate scientists to unpick the differences between weather and climate, discovering that not only is climate change affecting local weather systems, but it鈥檚 also affecting our ability to forecast it.

She鈥檒l also be learning about the IPCC report, and how there is no longer any doubt that climate change is a real and present threat to life on earth.

Contributors:
Esther Tinayo, Maasai villager
Esther Kirayian, Maasai villager
Patricia Nying鈥檜ro, Kenya Meteorological Department
Abebe Tadege, IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre
Professor Mark Maslin, University College London

Presented by Marnie Chesterton
Produced by Ben Motley, with Christine Yohannes, for the 成人快手 World Service

[Image credit: Getty Images]

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34 minutes

Last on

Mon 31 Oct 2022 18:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 28 Oct 2022 19:32GMT
  • Sat 29 Oct 2022 01:32GMT
  • Mon 31 Oct 2022 04:32GMT
  • Mon 31 Oct 2022 13:32GMT
  • Mon 31 Oct 2022 18:32GMT

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