Forschungsmagazin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (2004), 20 , 46-51.
In summer 2002 Germany experienced heavy precipitation and extreme flooding, while summer 2003 was characterized by extended periods of extremely hot and dry weather. In both cases the meteorological phenomena are well-known, but they occured with an unusual strength or persistence. Theoretical reasoning and projections from climate models suggest that the increased frequency of such extreme events is due to the human impact on the atmosphere, altough the occurrence of a few extremes cannot be taken as a proof of anthropogenic climate change.