extreme heat Archives - Page 5 of 5

Sep282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Weather Events in South America Triple in Frequency Since 1970

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The frequency of days with extreme heat, dryness, and high fire risk has tripled in certain parts of South America since 1970, according to recent research. The study highlights that while the continent is warming at the same rate as the global average, specific regions are increasingly vulnerable to the co-occurrence of these climate extremes, which pose significant threats to ecosystems, economies, and public health. The most affected areas include the Venezuela-Colombia border, the northern Amazon, and parts of central South America near the Río de la Plata basin. In these regions, the number of days with compounded climate extremes has skyrocketed from fewer than 20 to as many as 70 per year. The variability of these extreme events has also increased from year to year. Impact of ...

Sep252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Research Uncovers Heat Tolerance Variability in Corals Offering Hope for Reef Survival

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new study has revealed surprising variations in heat tolerance among coral colonies, offering new insights into their potential survival as global ocean temperatures rise. Even corals of the same species, living side by side, exhibit significantly different responses to heat stress, highlighting the complexity of coral resilience. The findings, published today, come as the world grapples with the impact of climate change on coral reefs. With the fourth global mass bleaching event recently declared and the Great Barrier Reef suffering five mass bleachings since 2016, these discoveries are crucial for future conservation efforts. Variable Heat Tolerance in Coral colonies The research focused on the tabular coral Acropora hyacinthus, a species highly vulnerable to heat waves but es...

Sep212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Summer of 2024 Breaks Heat Records as New Research Unveils Human-Caused Disruption in Earth’s Air Circulation Systems

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The summer of 2024 has officially become the hottest on record, marking a worrying milestone in a trend that scientists had long predicted. The intensifying heat and dryness, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, have fueled severe droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, and crop failures across North America and Europe. These escalating conditions are increasingly threatening societies worldwide. A major contributor to these extreme weather patterns is the weakening of Earth's air circulation systems, a phenomenon that scientists now attribute directly to human activities. Two groundbreaking studies led by Dr. Rei Chemke of the Weizmann Institute of Science have uncovered the underlying cause of this weakening. Published in leading scientific journals, these studies reveal that manmade emis...

Sep202024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat Waves on the Rise: How Jet Stream Changes Create Dangerous Heat Domes

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Recent meteorological diagrams reveal the alarming rise of heat domes over the continental United States, raising concerns as climate patterns shift. According to NOAA, these heat domes form when high pressure in the mid-atmosphere acts like a cap, trapping heat at the Earth’s surface. The longevity of these heat domes is closely tied to the behavior of the jet stream, a fast-moving band of winds located about 30,000 feet above sea level. The jet stream typically flows from west to east, influenced by temperature differences between warm tropical air and cold polar air. However, its meandering path can significantly affect weather patterns. Jet Stream's Impact on Weather As the jet stream meanders, it creates areas of high (H) and low (L) pressure, influencing weather across the U...

Aug132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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

Breaking News, Environment

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...