Meteorology
Did Al Gore's documentary accurately predict that New York City would go underwater?
Al Gore's documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth' featured a simulation showing potential flooding to the World Trade Center site, but this was based on a specific scenario where the Greenland ice sheet broke apart - something that hasn't happened. According to Ginger Zee's analysis, while not everything Gore predicted was perfect, the documentary did contain substantial scientific backing. The simulation was presenting a hypothetical extreme scenario rather than a definite prediction. This demonstrates how climate change communications often balance between presenting concerning possibilities while maintaining scientific accuracy. The core climate science in Gore's film remains valid even if some specific visualizations represented worst-case scenarios.
Watch clip answer (00:24m)
ABC News
00:50 - 01:15
What severe weather conditions are currently affecting the United States?
The United States is experiencing record bitter cold temperatures with at least 25 states under snow and ice alerts as a new storm moves eastward. This extreme weather follows devastating flash floods in Kentucky that have already claimed at least 12 lives. Millions of Americans are waking up to these harsh conditions, creating a compound threat as areas recovering from flooding now face freezing temperatures, which could lead to black ice and other dangerous conditions. The combination of multiple severe weather events is creating significant challenges across a large portion of the country.
Watch clip answer (00:15m)
ABC News
00:00 - 00:15
What is causing the extreme cold weather in the US this season?
The extreme cold in the US is being caused by the 10th and coldest polar vortex event of this season. Meteorologists have explained that this phenomenon occurs when weather forces in the Arctic push chilly air that normally remains near the North Pole southward into the United States and Europe. This displacement of Arctic air is creating unusually cold conditions across parts of the country, leading to severe temperature drops and dangerous wind chills in affected regions.
Watch clip answer (00:14m)
WION
00:43 - 00:57