Superstorm Sandy: A Series of Unfortunate Events?

Abstract

As we reflect upon the rash of extreme weather observed during 2012, no single event had as large an impact on the economy and political landscape of the United States as Superstorm Sandy (e.g., Bloomberg Businessweek: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-01/its-global-warming-stupid). Images of flooded subway stations in New York City, demolished towns on the New Jersey shore, and autumn blizzard conditions in Appalachia will be etched in the nation's psyche for quite some time. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events serving as a backdrop, many people are asking what role, if any, did anthropogenic climate change play in the development of Superstorm Sandy? We believe that the recent record-breaking losses of Arctic sea ice may figure prominently in answering this question and in improving our understanding of Sandy's unusual nature.

Keywords

• Superstorm Sandy
• Hurricane Sandy
• Arctic sea ice loss
• climate change