Final answer:
Heavy rainfall in 2012 led to increased flooding, environmental degradation, and societal impacts worldwide. This was part of a trend toward more extreme weather events related to climate change, causing significant damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2012, heavy rainfall led to various consequences around the world. For instance, the United States experienced severe weather events, with the U.S. Geological Survey recording flood events such as the one in western Georgia in September 2009. This event, although predating 2012, exemplifies the kind of flood hazards that heavy rainfall can cause. Continuing the pattern, 2012 was characterized by similar weather extremes: increasing intensity and frequency of rainfall and adverse weather events, such as prolonged droughts and escalated flooding in many regions globally.
The impact of these events was not just limited to the United States. Environmental degradation due to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, was observed worldwide, affecting crop yields, leading to food shortages, and causing significant property damage and, unfortunately, loss of life in some instances. Increased rainfall can also exacerbate existing environmental problems like desertification and sea-level rise, leading to issues such as decreased food supplies in vulnerable regions like Bangladesh, as noted in the provided information.
The increased frequency and intensity of such events are closely tied to long-term climate change projections, highlighting the need for more robust flood control measures and environmental policies to mitigate the impact of these disasters. As such, 2012 served as another reminder of the growing impact of climate change on our weather systems.