Climate change is significantly altering natural disaster patterns and intensities. Rising global average temperatures cause atmospheric and oceanic systems to contain more energy, leading to more extreme weather events.
Sea level rise increases flooding risk in coastal areas. Simultaneously, warmer ocean surfaces promote stronger hurricanes and typhoons. Hurricane Otis striking Acapulco in 2023 was powered by warm water providing available energy.
Changing rainfall patterns increase flood risk in some regions and drought risk in others. For example, the 2010 Tabasco flood is linked to climate change-driven increased rainfall intensity.
Earthquakes and volcanic activity are not directly caused by climate change, but climate change complicates disaster recovery and requires updated risk assessment models.