LAUSR

Significance Storms and extreme weather events are stronger in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. Using an energetic perspective, observations, and climate model simulations, we show that the stormier Southern Hemisphere is induced by topography and the ocean circulation, which transports energy from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere. We also show that the recent increase in Southern Hemisphere storminess is connected to changes in implied ocean energy transport in the Southern Ocean. Northern Hemisphere storminess has not changed significantly because the ocean changes are opposed by the absorption of sunlight due to the loss of sea ice and snow. These observed changes are qualitatively consistent with climate model projections.