Posted 29 August 2017
Distinguished US climate scientist, Dr Roy Spencer writes: "In the context of climate change, is what we are seeing in Houston a new level of disaster which is becoming more common? The flood disaster unfolding in Houston is certainly very unusual. But so are other natural weather disasters, which have always occurred and always will occur....Major floods are difficult to compare throughout history because of the ways we alter the landscape., For example, as cities like Houston expand over the years, soil is covered up by roads, parking lots and buidings, with water rapidly draining off rather than soaking into the soil. The population of Houston is now ten times what is was in the 1920s. The Houston metroplex has expanded greatly and the water drainage is basically in the direction of downtown Houston."
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