Summary
This Nature Reviews article synthesises current understanding of climate change effects on hailstorms, a significant hazard to agricultural production and infrastructure. The authors examine observational trends, physical mechanisms, and model projections to assess how future climate scenarios may alter hailstorm occurrence and severity. The review indicates complex, non-linear relationships between warming and hail activity, with important regional variation in projected changes as suggested by mid-21st-century climate scenarios.
UK applicability
Given the UK's exposure to severe convective weather, this global synthesis of hailstorm–climate change relationships is relevant to understanding future agricultural and infrastructure risks in British regions. However, the review's conclusions about regional variation mean UK-specific observational and modelling studies are needed to refine projections for English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish conditions.
Key measures
Hailstorm frequency, intensity, and severity; observational climatological records; regional climate model projections; physical mechanisms linking atmospheric warming to hail formation
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises observational trends, physical mechanisms, and climate model projections regarding how climate change alters hailstorm occurrence, severity, and spatial distribution. It assesses regional variation in projected changes and implications for agricultural production and infrastructure.
Topic tags
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