1,000-Year Event? More Like Media Myth—Climatologist Exposes Overblown Weather Claims
by Dr. Matthew Wielicki Sep 17, 2024 in Extreme Weather, Geology, Media, News and Opinion Reading Time: 4 mins read
When the media claims we’re experiencing a “once in 500-year” or “once in 1,000-year” weather event, they’re missing a fundamental point about how data works, and as an Earth Scientist, this is something I’m acutely aware of. [emphasis, links added]
In geology, we study the Earth’s long history through rock formations, sediment layers, and fossil records, which help us track major climatic trends and shifts over Earth’s history.
We can read signs of past floods, droughts, and shifts in temperature, but there’s a crucial limitation here: geological proxies don’t capture daily weather extremes.
You might find evidence of sustained climatic conditions that result in long-term sediment buildup or erosion.
https://climatechangedispatch.com/1000-year-event-more-like-media-myth-climatologist-exposes-overblown-weather-claims/
