Trends in climate extremes affecting human settlements

There is evidence of increasing frequency of both high temperature and heavy precipitation extremes over many land areas. However, because they are by definition unusual, climate extremes require special care to ensure that they are monitored and analysed properly. Analysis of the output of global climate models suggests that increasing trends in extremes are likely to continue owing to climate change from enhanced levels of greenhouse gases. The management of the impacts of climate extremes requires efforts to establish not only infrastructure to protect life and property but also systems to predict the onset of extreme events so that evasive or protective actions can be taken.