Greenbang’s weekly Climate Change Index tracks research findings and events directly attributable to global warming. Our aim is to provide a numerical, week-to-week indicator of climate change developments.

Items that qualify for listing in each week’s index include new climate data published in peer-reviewed academic journals and extreme weather incidents or other natural events that are likely directly linked to the global warming trend.

The Climate Change Index for this week, ending 11 Oct. 2009 (details below): 4

8 October: The average September temperature across the US was 1.0 degree F above the 1901 – 2000 average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

8 October: Climate change appears to be changing wind patterns in the US Pacific Northwest, which contributes to the development of ocean “dead zones” in the area, according to researchers at Oregon State University.

8 October: The last time our planet’s atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were as high as they are today? Try 15 million years ago, according to new research by scientists at the University of California Los Angeles.

8 October: Climate change is likely to be responsible for southern India’s “sudden shift from ‘extreme drought’ to ‘extreme floods,’ “ ThaiIndian News reported. Some regions reported rainfall up to 600 per cent higher than normal.

Tags: global warming