The new chief of the World Meteorological Organization said it looks to her that the rate of human-caused climate change is accelerating and that warming has triggered more Arctic cold outbreaks in North America and Europe, weighing in on two issues that divide climate scientists.

In her first sit-down interview since taking office last month, WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo told The Associated Press that even though her agency said last year was 1.48 C above pre-industrial levels, the world must SA国际影视传媒渒eep on with its ambition of trying not to reach 1.5 C on a longer-term basis, not just one year. SA国际影视传媒淲e have a trend that is really worrying. The trend is very clear.SA国际影视传媒�

Saulo said the world needs to act quickly but she said there are powerful economic forces that keep that from happening.

Slow efforts to curb climate change SA国际影视传媒渋s not about diplomacy, I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 about power and economy,SA国际影视传媒� Saulo said during a break at the American Meteorological SocietySA国际影视传媒檚 meeting in Baltimore. SA国际影视传媒淲e are lagging behind our objectives because of our interests SA国际影视传媒� economic interests SA国际影视传媒� that are well beyond what our common sense, our diplomats and our scientists are pointing out.SA国际影视传媒�

Last year former NASA top climate scientist James Hansen and others published a study saying the climate is not just getting warmer, but the rate of change is accelerating. A second study found ocean heat content, where much of EarthSA国际影视传媒檚 trapped energy is stored, is rising at a faster rate than before. Other scientists disagreed, saying warming, stoked by an El Nino, is still occurring at the predicted rate.

Saulo said she sees the acceleration Hansen is talking about, especially based on research by some WMO science teams. She said what bothers her is not knowing what it means for the future.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are not there in terms of our scientific understanding of the implications of this acceleration. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 fully understand how it is going to evolve,SA国际影视传媒� Saulo said.

Saulo, who had been the head of ArgentinaSA国际影视传媒檚 meteorological office, said what worries her most is what is happening at both poles as seas warm, ice melts and society adds more heat-trapping gases.

In another area of hot debate among scientists, Saulo said she sees a link between amped up warming in the Arctic and more sudden but deep cold outbreaks in North America and Europe, often referred to as the polar vortex escaping its normal northern confines. WhatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening is that the difference between winter temperatures in the Arctic and the mid-latitudes isnSA国际影视传媒檛 as large as it used to be, which triggers changes in the jet stream more frequently, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 this huge concern, particularly in the northern hemisphere because of the continental area is exposed and so many people are living there,SA国际影视传媒� Saulo said.

But what really is more important, she said, are worsening heat waves.

SA国际影视传媒淗eat waves are the most killing of extreme events,SA国际影视传媒� Saulo said, adding that the number of deaths are usually undercounted. Plus, heat waves have other side impacts on health, fires and air quality, she said.

She said lack of adequate monitoring and warning systems for flooding, storms, heat waves and droughts, especially in the global south, is another big problem.

SA国际影视传媒淔ifty percent of our population currently does not have early warning systems in place,SA国际影视传媒� Saulo said. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to protect them.SA国际影视传媒�

Saulo is the first female WMO secretary-general, the first from the Americas and only the second one from the global south. That matters, she said, because SA国际影视传媒淚 bring my culture, my values and coming from the global south I think we have many things, many ideas to put on board. And I believe this is an opportunity to bring those new ideas. Not better, not worse, but different.SA国际影视传媒�

With what seems like accelerated warming, more heat waves and other extremes such as floods, droughts and storms, being in charge of a global climate and weather agency can daunting, Saulo said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am in a way overwhelmed, but I think we can do something,SA国际影视传媒� Saulo said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a mix of being overwhelmed, but also being optimistic that there is something we can do and I can do from my position to help our society better prepare for climate change.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press