Scientists are convinced that global warming made the Spanish hurricane more powerful

Although scientists are reluctant to name any single most dangerous event caused by climate change, researchers have been quick to point out the role that rising temperatures have played in making Spain's floods worse.

“There is no doubt, these explosive rains were intensified by climate change,” said Dr. Friederike Otto, from Imperial College London, who is leading an international team of scientists trying to understand the role that warming plays in these types of events.

With every fraction of a certain amount of fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to even more intense rainfall.”

Meteorologists say that the main cause of the heavy rain is the natural weather phenomenon that hits Spain in Autumn and Winter.

Called “gota fría” or cold drop, it sees cold air descend on the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, which has been experiencing very warm conditions over the past few years.

The warm moist air over the ocean then quickly rises, leading to long, tall clouds that are blown off the coast and bring heavy rain.

The researchers say climate change has had a direct impact on the amount of rain carried by these clouds, increasing it by 7% for every 1C of warming.

When rain begins to fall, it falls with increasing pressure on the ground which is better able to absorb higher levels of water.

“As well as increasing rainfall, we are seeing summer heat which can heat up the soil and reduce its water absorption capacity,” said Prof Mark Smith, from the University of Leeds.

“This amplifies the direct effects of increased heavy rainfall as more water forms in the rivers.”

There is also some debate among scientists about whether a warming world makes these storms slower, which could increase the amount of rain they bring.

This year we have seen evidence of this type of storm and the damage it can cause.

In September, Storm Boris brought death and destruction in several countries throughout Central Europe, they were also strengthened by high temperatures in the Mediterranean.

This slow-moving disaster is said by scientists to have been caused by climate change twice.

In Spain, the lack of accurate warnings has led to criticism that more may be done.

But meteorologists say predicting the speed and movement of thunderstorms is a very tricky business.

“Warnings can save lives by helping people seek higher ground and safety before floods. But as we have seen in Spain today, it is very difficult to issue warnings about severe thunderstorms because the exact location of the strongest rain is not known in advance,” said Dr Linda Speight from the University of Oxford.

“Magicians and scientists are working hard to find new solutions to this challenge, it will not be an easy problem to solve.”

Another issue highlighted by the floods in Spain is the inability of modern infrastructure to cope with extreme floods.

As some researchers have pointed out, our roads and bridges and roads were designed to deal with the climate of the last century, not the one we have now.