extreme heat Archives - Page 3 of 3

Aug132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Urban Growth Intensifies Drought Conditions: New Study Reveals How Cities Like Sydney Are Increasing Water Stress and Heat

A groundbreaking study from China has uncovered alarming evidence that the rapid growth of cities worldwide is significantly contributing to more intense drought conditions, particularly in urban areas. This phenomenon is exacerbating urban heat and water stress, highlighting the urgent need to rethink how we design and build our cities to ensure they are more livable and resilient in the face of climate change. The study, which analyzed an extensive 40 years of weather station data from both urban and rural regions across the globe, reveals a stark connection between urbanization and worsening drought conditions. The findings indicate that larger cities with less green cover are experiencing even more severe droughts, with the Greater Sydney region being one of the most affected. Sy...

Jul212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cooling Urban Heat Islands: New Study Highlights the Role of Surrounding Countryside

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Scientists at the University of Surrey's Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) and Southeast University (China) have discovered that cooling "urban heat islands" may depend significantly on the surrounding rural areas. The study, which analyzed 20 years of data, reveals that rural regions can effectively reduce city temperatures, especially when the rural ring around a city extends for at least half the city's diameter. Urban heat islands, characterized by significantly higher temperatures in city centers compared to their rural surroundings, are a growing concern as global temperatures rise. Traditional approaches to mitigate these effects have focused on integrating green spaces, wetlands, and waterways within urban areas. However, the scarcity of urban land makes these measure...

Jun222024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Heatwave Claims Over 100 Lives in Mexico as Climate Change Intensifies

Breaking News, Climate Actions

An unprecedented and relentless heatwave, exacerbated by climate change, has gripped southwestern parts of the United States, Mexico, and northern Central America, leading to over 100 fatalities in Mexico alone. This extreme heat event, driven by a persistent high-pressure system known as a heat dome, has shattered daytime and nighttime temperature records across the region, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and the southwestern United States. The heat dome phenomenon, which traps hot air near the ground and intensifies under clear skies and sunshine, has resulted in severe and widespread impacts. Mexico has reported 125 heat-related deaths since March, with the ongoing drought conditions further aggravating the situation. The drought has not only reduced water availability but als...

Jun202024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Poses Significant Risks to Wind Power, Threatening Global Energy Security

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Climate change is set to have profound effects on wind power, a crucial component of the global energy mix. With around 1 terawatt of installed wind power capacity worldwide, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of the Netherlands, this figure is expected to double by 2030. Despite this growth, it still falls short of net-zero targets. Wind power already plays a significant role in many regions, with the UK deriving 29% of its electricity from wind in 2023 and the EU 18%. However, the future of wind power is uncertain as climate change alters wind patterns, intensifies storms, increases lightning strikes, and subjects equipment to extreme heat, potentially shortening the lifespan of turbines and increasing downtime. In the second half of 2021, Northwestern Europe experien...