heat waves

February Was Ninth Consecutive Month of Record-Breaking Global Temperatures

February Was Ninth Consecutive Month of Record-Breaking Global Temperatures

According to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), February 2024 was the planet’s ninth consecutive record-warm month. February’s average global temperature on land and the ocean’s surface was 2.52 degrees Fahrenheit above the century’s average of 53.8 degrees Fahrenheit — the warmest February in the 175-year NOAA planetary climate record. […]

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    Wild Weather in Central U.S. as Deep Freeze to Follow Heat Wave

    Wild Weather in Central U.S. as Deep Freeze to Follow Heat Wave

    Unusually warm weather in the central and southern United States on Monday and Tuesday will be followed by a deep freeze as extreme winter weather moves from coast to coast. Monday’s temperatures in the Midwestern states of Iowa and Nebraska were roughly 40 degrees Fahrenheit above average — in the mid-70s — while southern cities […]

    Marine Heat Waves Can Impact Microorganisms Enough to Cause ‘Profound Changes’ to Ocean Food Chain

    Marine Heat Waves Can Impact Microorganisms Enough to Cause ‘Profound Changes’ to Ocean Food Chain

    Marine heat waves (MHWs) are prolonged periods of ocean warming that can significantly affect coral reefs, fish, kelp forests and other marine life. A new study led by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has found that MHWs are changing the communities of microorganisms that make up the foundation of the oceanic food […]

    Global Heat Record for September ‘Shattered’ by Wide Margin

    Global Heat Record for September ‘Shattered’ by Wide Margin

    Earth’s average temperature has “shattered” the previous record for September by more than 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit, the biggest monthly margin ever recorded. According to separate analyses by climate scientists from Japan and Europe, last month temperatures all over the world were more like July, reported The Washington Post. “It’s astounding to see the previous record […]

    Over 100 Amazon River Dolphins Found Dead Amid Record-High Temperatures

    Over 100 Amazon River Dolphins Found Dead Amid Record-High Temperatures

    Over 100 Amazon river dolphins were found dead in Lake Tefé over the past week, the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, a social organization under Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, reported. Thousands of dead fish were also found, with experts concerned that the record-breaking high water temperatures and ongoing drought in the region […]

    Extreme Heat 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Extreme Heat 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Is ‘Extreme Heat’? Extreme heat is a type of extreme weather event during which temperatures rise far above the average for a particular area, especially during its seasonal summer. The U.S. government defines “extreme heat” as at least two to three days with high heat and humidity and temperatures higher than […]

    Climate Change Feedback Loop: Extreme Heat and Air Quality Must Be Tackled Together, WMO Says

    Climate Change Feedback Loop: Extreme Heat and Air Quality Must Be Tackled Together, WMO Says

    According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), extreme heat waves resulting from human-caused climate change are significantly and measurably impacting air quality, so the two must be addressed at the same time. This year’s WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin focuses on heat waves, highlighting the fact that high temperatures aren’t […]