Natural disasters are nothing new, but it certainly seems like there are more devastating weather-related tragedies these days.

Consider all the recent tornadoes, including this week's massive twister that obliterated 30 percent of the city of Joplin, Mo. The disaster killed at least 125 people and destroyed an estimated 8,000 properties.

The National Weather Service called it the single most deadly tornado since 1950.

Joplin's misery came after a series of twisters on April 27 caused heartache and havoc across Alabama, snuffing out another 189 lives and ruining untold numbers of properties. More twisters have followed in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma that killed at least another 16 people.

To date this year, the weather service reports more than 1,200 tornadoes that have killed more than 500 people.

There has been historic flooding of the Mississippi and potentially the Missouri rivers. Heavy spring rains and above-normal snow melt caused the deluge.

Adding to the death and damage is the fact the storms have hit heavily populated areas. The spate of disasters is raising questions about whether climate change is to blame.

The honest answer is that no one knows. Scientists have said that there are ingredients that thunderstorms need that could increase in a warmer world. But there are also ingredients that may decrease such storms, so links are tenuous.

Opponents of efforts to curb carbon emissions dismiss the notion that global warming could be the root cause of the recent increase in natural disasters. They cry foul and talk about conspiracy theories. But while scientists cannot link any specific disaster to climate change, the preponderance of evidence points to a warming planet and humankind's significant contribution to that change. These climate changes have and will disrupt weather patterns with unpredictable and potentially calamitous results.

Waiting to reduce carbon emissions only after ironclad proof of a connection with weather disasters could mean waiting too long.