The map that reveals global warming's 'fingerprints' on 2015

A new scientific report finds man-made climate change played some role in two dozen extreme weather events last year but not in a few other weird weather instances around the world.

An annual report released Thursday Dec 15,2016 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found climate change was a factor, however small or large, in 24 of 30 strange weather events. 

They include 11 cases of high heat, as well as unusual winter sunshine in the United Kingdom, Alaskan wildfires and odd 'sunny day' flooding in Miami.

The Study documented climate change-goosed weather in Alaska, Washington state, the southeastern United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the western north Pacific cyclone region, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Ethiopia and southern Africa.

'It has to be measureable. It has to be detectable. 

'There has to be evidence for it and that's what these papers do,' said NOAA scientist Stephanie Herring, co-editor of the report.

In six cases — including cold snaps in the United States and downpours in Nigeria and India — the scientists could not detect climate change's effects. 

Other scientists, though, disputed that finding for the cold snap that hit the Northeast.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT

Evidence for human-influenced climate change was identified for:

• Ten extreme heat events, including heat waves in Europe, India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia
• The record average global temperature in 2015
• Record-low Arctic sea ice in March
• Alaska's intense wildfire season
• Extreme drought in southwestern Canada
• Extreme May rainfall in southeast China
• Florida's 'sunny day' flood in September
• Record winter sunshine in the United Kingdom

No climate change signal was found for:

• Outbreaks of extreme cold in the eastern US and Canada
• The late onset of Nigeria's spring rainy season
• Heavy daily precipitation in December over Chennai, India