From 'Firenados' to 'Greta Effect,' here's the new mind boggling lingo of climate change
Houseboats on Lake Oroville during a drought in Oroville, California, U.S., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Water levels at Lake Oroville could drop so low this summer that the Edward Hyatt hydroelectric power plant could shut down for the first time since being built in 1967. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
One of the annoying things about global warming—besides the likelihood it will ravage life on Earth—is all the new words we are expected to learn in order to track our descent into climate chaos.
Rising temperatures have not only boosted the intensity or frequency of major storms and heatwaves, they have spawned rare or novel weather phenomena, accompanied by new more-or-less scientific names.
"Firenados", for example, occur when searing heat and turbulent winds rise above out-of-control forest fires in tornado-like columns.
California and Australia have seen plenty of these vertical flame-throwers, and will likely see a lot more, scientists say.