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Across much of America and especially in the normally chilly north, the country went through the winter months without, well, winter. The Lower 48 states averaged 37.6 degrees (3.1 degrees Celsius), which is 5.4 degrees (3 degrees Celsius) above average. But Iowa blew past its warmest February by 2 degrees, while parts of Minnesota were 20 degrees warmer than average for all of February, Gleason said. A strong ridge of high pressure kept the eastern United States warm and dry, while California kept getting hit with atmospheric rivers, she said. Winter weather expert Cohen, who is based outside of Boston, joked that the U.S. no longer has four seasons: "We have two seasons.

Persons: “, El Nino, ”, Jeff Masters, Masters, Karin Gleason, Gleason, Copernicus, Judah Cohen, Cohen, ” Cohen, Theresa Crimmins, weren’t, Crimmins, ” Crimmins, Patrick Whittle, ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: National Phenology Network, El, Climate, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental, Iowa, El Nino, Associated Press, Atmospheric Environmental Research, National Weather Service, Rutgers Snow Lab Locations: America, Colorado, New Jersey, Texas, Carolinas, U.S, Michigan, United States, Minnesota, Great, California, El, That's, Boston, Europe, Asia, Fort Kent, Maine, Portland , Maine, AP.org

☆ 18 million rental units are at risk as climate disasters get more common, Harvard study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

More than 18 million occupied rental units are exposed to climate-related risks, Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies said in a new study. This could strain rental stock supply, boost prices, and cause a jump in evictions. Specifically, about 18.2 million units are at risk of substantial loss damage, whether from hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes and similar hazards. "Notably, newer rental units are much more likely to be vulnerable to weather- and climate-related hazards. US rental supply is now at its oldest level ever, with millions of rental units deficient in some form.

Persons: It's, DeltaTerra's Dave Burt Organizations: for Housing Studies, Service, Harvard's, NOAA National Centers for Environmental, Street Foundation

☆ Over 18 million rental units are exposed to climate hazards as extreme weather becomes more common, Harvard study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

D3sign | Stone | Getty ImagesExtreme weather and climate hazards are becoming more frequent, posing a unique threat not only for homeowners, but for renters. Over 18 million rental units across the U.S. are exposed to climate and weather-related hazards, according to the latest American Rental Housing Report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. While they're a smaller share of the rental stock, 52% of manufactured units are located in areas with extreme weather exposure. "It's sort of a compounding risk when we see these increases in climate hazards and start impacting people who can't afford to move away from the risk." Check what type of disasters are included in your renters insurance policy.

Persons: Sophia Wedeen, Jeremy Porter, Wedeen, Porter Organizations: Harvard University's, for Housing Studies, Harvard, FEMA, Survey, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Finance, NOAA National Centers for Environmental, First Street Foundation Locations: U.S, New York

☆ See Where Heavy Rainfall Deluged California
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Zach Levitt | Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

See Where Heavy Rainfall Deluged CaliforniaHourly precipitation Total precipitation accumulation 0.5 1 2 3 4 inchesSource: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction Notes: Data reflects near-real-time analysis of liquid precipitation amounts. The storm lingered over Southern California on Monday, with some areas receiving record-breaking rainfall. The Los Angeles River in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday. Residents dig out a road after a mudslide in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. ReutersThe latest storm is the second atmospheric river to drench California in a few days.

Persons: Jenna Schoenefeld, Jill Cowan Organizations: Centers for, Times, National Weather Service, Calif, The New York Times, Hollywood, The New York, Reuters, Area, Coast Locations: California, Southern California, Los Angeles, Los, Santa Monica, Studio City, San Fernando Valley, Laurel, Studio, Angeles, Sherman Oaks, drench California

☆ On Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil Predicts an Early Spring
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Thousands of revelers gathered at dawn in Punxsutawney, a small town northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate Groundhog Day and watch Phil make his way out of his tree stump to offer his annual weather forecast. Glad tidings on this Groundhog Day. According to legend, if the rodent sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, frigid and blustery weather will persist for six weeks. The first official celebration of Groundhog Day was in 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Groundhog Day, famously featured in the classic 1993 film of the same name starring Bill Murray, draws visitors from around the world, even though the creature's track record is spotty.

Persons: Brendan O'Brien, Phil, Bill Murray Organizations: Reuters, National Centers for Environmental Locations: North America, Punxsutawney, Pittsburgh, America, Pennsylvania, California, Chicago

☆ Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predictions are in. More winter, or early spring?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mary Gilbert | Monica Garrett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Punxsutawney Phil – the famous groundhog weather watcher – woke up and did not see his shadow Friday morning, calling for an early spring. Each February 2, on Groundhog Day, the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club make the pilgrimage to Gobbler’s Knob – Phil’s official home. Phil and his friends in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, have been predicting the seasons since 1887, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Given that, will Phil’s prediction of an early spring come true?

Persons: Phil –, –, Phil, Nature, Groundhog, A.J, Dereume, Barry Reeger, Phil’s prognostications Organizations: CNN, National Centers for Environmental Locations: Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney, Pa

“We know this is silly; we know this is fun,” said Marcy Galando, executive director of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Members of Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, organized in 1899, care for Phil at a customized space beside Punxsutawney Memorial Library — where there's a window with a view into the creature's burrow. The Punxsutawney groundhog makes predictions but he's not always predictable. In 1998, a groundhog club leader wearing a $4,000 groundhog suit reported being assaulted by a half-dozen young men. Intended to preserve Pennsylvania German culture and traditions, clubs would sometimes fine those who were caught speaking anything but their Pennsylvania Dutch language at meetings.

Persons: Phil, there'll, Bill Murray, ”, there's, Marcy Galando, Joseph, Jesus, Don Yoder, Yoder, he's, didn't, PHIL, Charlie Hart, Hart, Orphie, “ Octoraro Orphie, It's, Travis Lau, ” Lau, groundhogs, William W, Donner, ” Donner Organizations: Historians, University of Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, University, National Centers for Environmental, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S Locations: Pa, Pennsylvania, U.S, Canadian, Europe, Jerusalem, United States, Morgantown , Pennsylvania, —, Pittsburgh, Punxsutawney, Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania's

The latest calculations from several science agencies showing Earth obliterated global heat records last year may seem scary. Former NASA climate scientist James Hansen, often considered the godfather of global warming science, theorized last year that warming was accelerating. That’s 0.27 degrees (0.15 degrees Celsius) warmer than the previous record set in 2016 and 2.43 degrees (1.35 degrees Celsius) warmer than pre-industrial temperatures. NASA and the United Kingdom Meteorological Office had the warming since the mid-19th century a bit higher at 2.5 degrees (1.39 degrees Celsius) and 2.63 degrees (1.46 degrees Celsius) respectively. It’s the third time in the last eight years that a global heat record was set.

Persons: Nature, ”, Katharine Jacobs, Gavin Schmidt, El, NASA's Schmidt, Schmidt, Samantha Burgess, Europe's, Burgess, James Hansen, Daniel Swain, Russ Vose, Jennifer Francis, Katharine Hayhoe, Randall Cerveny, “, ” Cerveny, Natalie Mahowald, “ I've, Kim Cobb, ” ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: Associated Press, University of Arizona, El Nino, Service, NASA, AP, UCLA, U.S . National Oceanic, Administration, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental, United Kingdom Meteorological Office, . Records, World Meteorological Organization, Climate Research, Conservancy, NOAA, Arizona State University, WMO, Cornell University, The Associated Press Locations: British, El, Paris, Brown, AP.org

☆ What the $150 billion climate change is costing the US looks like a year: Here’s
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Compare that to 40 years ago, when extreme weather episodes that cost an inflation-adjusted $1 billion happened once every four months on average. As of November 8, there have been 25 weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The National Climate Assessment report’s estimate of the total annual cost of climate change in the United States takes those factors into account. $150 billion at glanceIt may be hard to appreciate the value of $150 billion without anything to compare it to. The $150 billion annual cost of extreme weather in the damage to the US is:

Persons: Tatyana Deryugina Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental, NOAA, MIT’s Center, Real, Hurricanes, University of Illinois, CNN Locations: New York, United States, Hawaii, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign

☆ Installing solar isn't the only big financial decision to make about controlling home power
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

That means it may be a good time to consider a home backup power storage system. Fossil fuel vs. battery power If you're not opposed to fossil fuel-powered options, there are several categories to consider based on your power needs. EVs as a backup power option for the home Some electrical vehicles can be used to back up essential items, or, in some cases, a whole home. "If you're contemplating spending $10,000 on a whole home gas generator system, why not think about an EV with this capability instead?" Some states provide additional solar battery incentives.

Persons: Ian Thomas Jansen, Lonnquist, Benjamin R, Dierker, Vikram Aggarwal, EnergySage, it's, Aggarwal, EVs, Ford's, Jim Farley, Stephen Pantano, Pantano, Sarah Delisle, Ted Tiffany, Tiffany Organizations: Motors Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Alliance for Innovation, National Centers for Environmental, Consumers, GM, Ford, Swell Energy, Decarbonization Coalition, of Energy, Homeowners, Energy Department Locations: United States, California , Texas, Louisiana, California, California , Vermont , Massachusetts, New York, America

☆ When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans? Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city.

Persons: Biden, Bernard, It’s, ”, Jeffrey Graschel, hydrologist, doesn’t, CONN, Matthew Roe, “ It’s, ” Mr, Graschel Organizations: New, Jefferson, Salvador Pointe à, Army Corps of Engineers, Copernicus, Midwest, U.S . Drought Monitor, National Weather Service, NEV, ALA, MISS, Oregon State University In, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, National Weather, Army Corps Locations: Orleans, Mississippi, New Orleans, Louisiana, Pontchartrain, Carrollton, Algiers, Salvador, la, Mexico Lake Pontchartrain, Salvador Pointe à la, Mexico, Gulf, Ohio, Slidell, La, Minnesota, MAINE, MINN, VT, N.H . IDAHO, S.D, N.Y, WIS, R.I, PA, IOWA, NEB . OHIO, UTAH, COLO . CALIF . VA, KAN . MO, KY, N.C, TENN, OKLA, ., MISS . TEXAS LA, FLA, NEV . UTAH, CONN, WYO, NEV . OHIO, Myrtle Grove, ”

☆ Who Profits After Natural Disasters Like Hurricanes and Wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Anthony Dimauro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

After Hurricane Michael struck Florida in 2018, home sales rose significantly, allowing disaster investors to reap the rewards. This venture has the potential to be even more rewarding given the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the US. But federal disaster relief is painfully slow to respond and often doesn't cover most of the costs. And while moratoriums on damaged land sales aren't a long-term, legally tenable solution, there are ways state officials might be able to deter disaster investors. As the threat of natural disasters increases, so will disaster profiteers.

Persons: Josh Green, Ian, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane, Joe Raedle, Hurricane Maria, Congress —, Hurricane Sandy, it's, Anthony DiMauro Organizations: Nashville Metro Council, FEMA, Hurricane, Centers for Environmental, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Emergency Managment Agency, Small Business Administration, Urban Institute, Office, Congress, of Housing, Urban, Bloomberg, Newsweek, L.A Locations: Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii's, Tennessee, Nashville, Florida, Wilsey, New Orleans, California, Puerto Rico, Lahaina, New York

☆ Climate change and extreme weather, like Maui wildfires, are hurting affordable housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

For people on Maui and across the US, climate change is making the affordable housing crunch even worse. “This is why they have been building these affordable housing buildings. It is a safe place, but it doesn’t feel like home.”Affordable housing picture on Maui was already ‘pretty grim’For people on Maui and across the US, climate change is making the affordable housing crunch even worse. But not fires damaging buildings and taking lives.”“The affordable housing picture was pretty grim on Maui even before the fire,” he said. “There was more than one kitchen, more than one family living there.”These types of cobbled-together solutions to affordable housing are now gone, as are other recent hard-won affordable housing projects.

Persons: Josh Green, Hannah Harris, Tony Ellett, ”, Harris, “, ” Harris, Ellett, Jae C, Shantal Catanach, Keanu, ” Catanach, she’s, Stan Franco, Franco, –, Diane Yentel, ” Yentel, Yentel, Hurricane Sandy, Sandy, Peter Niess, Justin Sullivan Organizations: DC CNN, Urban Institute, UN, University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, NOAA National Centers for Environmental, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, Income Housing Coalition, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Hurricane, Maui Architectural Locations: Washington, Maui, Lahaina, Catanach, Maui County, Hawaii, Corelogic, Maui –, Lahaina , Hawaii

Tracking Heat Across the WorldAn onslaught of heat waves is gripping parts of the Northern Hemisphere, as some cities face dangerously high temperatures. Where Tuesday’s maximum temperature forecasts were extremely high 70 °F 80 °F 90 °F 100 °F 110 °F 120 °F AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA Source: Climate Reanalyzer, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, using data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast SystemIn Europe, much of Italy is engulfed by the heat, with temperatures expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) in the central and southern part of the country. Soaring temperatures and strong winds have fueled wildfires in seaside towns in Greece, the Canary Islands and a coastal village in Croatia. Where Tuesday’s forecast temperatures were warmer than normal Degrees warmer or cooler than the 1979-2000 average for July 18 +0 °F +5 °F +10 °F +15 °F AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA N. AMERICA ASIA EUROPE S. AMERICA AUSTRALIA Source: Climate Reanalyzer, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, using data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast SystemLast month was Earth’s warmest June on record, according to researchers at the World Meteorological Organization, and scientists have said that the first two weeks of July have been the hottest since at least 1940. Hot surface air temperatures have been accompanied by marine heat waves, too.

Persons: El Organizations: Northern, AMERICA, Change Institute, University of Maine, National Centers for, World Meteorological Organization Locations: AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA EUROPE, AMERICA AUSTRALIA AFRICA, Italy, Greece, Croatia, China, United States, California, Arizona , Texas, Waters, Florida, Caribbean

CNN —The planet’s temperature soared again on Thursday to levels not seen in the modern record-keeping era, marking the fourth straight day of record temperatures. On Monday, the average global temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest in the NCEP’s data, which goes back to 1979. On Tuesday it climbed to 17.18 degrees Celsius, where it remained on Wednesday. Before this week, the record in NCEP’s data was 16.92 degrees Celsius and was set in August 2016. Temperature records aren’t just numbers, “but for many people and ecosystems it’s a loss of life and livelihood.”

Persons: Jennifer Francis, Francis, Angel Garcia, Robert Rohde, Niño, “ It’s, ” Friederike Otto, ” Otto Organizations: CNN, University of Maine’s, US National Centers for Environmental, Climate Research, Bloomberg, Getty, Berkeley, El, Grantham Institute, Climate Locations: “, Seville, Spain

☆ El Niño + climate change = heat records
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Climate change combined with this year’s El Niño set a new world record for worldwide heat on Tuesday – 62.92 degrees Fahrenheit or 17.18 degrees Celsius. The WMO declared the onset of an El Niño Tuesday and warned governments to prepare for more extreme weather events as a result. This will be the first El Niño in seven years. The last very strong El Niño year – 2016 – also saw the previous record for worldwide heat that August. “It is El Niño on top of decades of human emissions of greenhouse gases.”There is no turning back, he said, but humans can likely slow the change.

Persons: Niño, –, It’s, Bill Weir, we’re, ”, ” Weir, John Abraham, Thomas, Weir, ” Abraham, Abraham, “ Organizations: CNN, National Centers, Environmental, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations, WMO, El, CNN International, University of St, Reuters Locations: Switzerland, Americas, Africa, Quebec, Miami, Minnesota, El, ”

☆ The planet saw its hottest day ever this week. The record will be broken again and again
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —This week saw the hottest global temperature ever recorded, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction. On Monday, the average global temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit), the highest since records began. On Tuesday, it climbed even further, to reach 17.18 degrees Celsius. The average temperature for the month was 15.8 degrees Celsius (60.4 Fahrenheit), breaking the previous record by 0.9 degree Celsius. The new global average temperature record is another wake-up call, Otto told CNN.

Persons: Robert Rohde, It’s, ”, Friederike Otto, ” Paul Davies, Otto Organizations: CNN, US National Centers for Environmental, El, Grantham Institute, Climate, Met Office Locations: Berkeley, Texas, Mexico, India, Bihar, China

July 4 - Monday, July 3, was the hottest day ever recorded globally, according to data from the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The average global temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit), surpassing the August 2016 record of 16.92C (62.46F) as heatwaves sizzled around the world. Ukraine's Vernadsky Research Base in the white continent's Argentine Islands recently broke its July temperature record with 8.7C (47.6F). "This is not a milestone we should be celebrating," said climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Britain's Imperial College London. Scientists said climate change, combined with an emerging El Nino pattern, were to blame.

Persons: Friederike Otto of, Zeke Hausfather, Gloria Dickie, Mark Potter Organizations: U.S . National Centers for Environmental, Vernadsky Research, Argentine Islands, Grantham Institute, Climate, Britain's Imperial College London, El Nino, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, North Africa, Antarctica, Argentine, El, Berkeley

☆ Here’s How Much Hotter Than Normal This June Has Been
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Elena Shao | Raymond Zhong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

64° F June 11, 2023 62° 2022 60° 1979-2021 58° Global Daily Average Air Temperatures 56° 54° 52° 50° Jan. 1 Mar. “We’re putting heat into the system — through climate change, through the greenhouse effect — and that heat is going to manifest. NOAA last month said there was a 40 percent chance that this year’s hurricane season would be near normal. But it also assigned 30 percent probabilities to the season’s being above or below normal. There’s another factor that could also have made the world hotter recently, though it’s not clear how much.

Persons: ” Rick Spinrad, “, Spinrad, El Niño, it’s, Daniel L, Swain, Dr, ” Organizations: University of Maine, National Centers for, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, University of California Locations: Canada, United States, Siberia, Antarctica, El, Pacific, Tonga, Los Angeles

Land temperatures across the northern hemisphere were +2.02°C higher than the long-term average (1901-2000) between October and March. But Europe’s temperatures were +2.42°C above the long-term average, making it the second-warmest winter ever recorded in the area. By contrast, Asia’s winter temperatures were +2.07°C warmer over the six months as a whole and North America’s temperatures were only +1.23°C above the long-term seasonal average. Chartbook: Winter temperatures 2022-2023Facing pressure on gas and electricity supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s gas and electricity consumption was suppressed in large part by warm weather, helping stretch gas inventories and avoid shortages. Europe’s policymakers, businesses and households were extraordinarily fortunate this winter; that should not make them complacent about winter 2023/24.

Working stocks in underground storage amounted to 1,900 billion cubic feet on March 17, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the highest for the time of year since 2020 and before that 2017. Stocks were 242 billion cubic feet (+15% or +0.54 standard deviations) above the prior ten-year seasonal average (“Weekly natural gas storage report”, EIA, March 23). The seasonal storage surplus was a total transformation from a deficit of 263 billion cubic feet (-8% or -0.98 standard deviations) on Jan. 1 and 427 bcf (-13% or -1.52 standard deviations) on Sept. 9. But liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports increased to a record 3,866 billion cubic feet, an even faster increase of 8.6% compared with 2021. Related columns:- U.S. gas prices near record low amid over-production (Feb. 22)- U.S. gas prices slump to maximise power burn (Feb. 10)- U.S. gas prices slump on production surplus (Jan. 12)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

The core winter season of 2022/23 was the second warmest on record, after the winter of 2019/20, when temperatures were 3.32 C above average. Chartbook: Europe winter temperaturesTemperature records display a clear warming trend for the last four decades, and clusters of warmer-than-normal or colder-than-normal years have been common in the long-term record. From a prudent planning perspective, Europe must prepare for next winter to be colder, putting more stress on gas supplies and prices. Related columns:- With winter almost over, Europe’s gas stocks are at seasonal record high (March 3, 2023)- Europe faces more high gas prices next winter (January 20, 2023)- Crisis over? Europe’s gas stocks at seasonal record high (January 17, 2023)- Europe should thank mild autumn for averting gas crisis this winter (December 16, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

☆ Fed’s reluctance to go green will cost the Earth
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Central banks don’t think they can do much about the environment. The U.S. Federal Reserve has done even less, arguing it should not tackle climate change without an explicit order from Congress. In a 2021 survey by Invesco, 63% of responding central banks said addressing climate change fell within their mandate. Central banks aren’t best equipped to lead the green transition, anyway. There’s also a valid concern that focusing on climate change could water down the Fed’s mission to fight inflation.

Turkey’s two main fault zones — the East Anatolian and the North Anatolian — make it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Magnitudes of major earthquakes since 1900 Map showing the East Anatolian and North Anatolian fault zones in Turkey. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake at 4:17 a.m. local time, and the unusually large 7.5-magnitude aftershock nine hours later, both were in the East Anatolian Fault Zone. The East Anatolian zone encompasses the area where there is movement of the Anatolian Plate relative to the Arabian Plate to the southeast. The North Anatolian zone is where there is movement of the Anatolian Plate and the Eurasian Plate to the north.

☆ Fact Check-Eight cooler years cannot be extrapolated to draw conclusions on long-term global warming
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

SHORT TERM FLUCTUATIONSGlobal surface temperatures are heavily influenced by annual Pacific Ocean patterns known as El Nino and La Nina, and collectively as ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation). A large El Nino event followed by a La Nina can “lead to a temporary ‘pause’ in global temperatures over timescales of a decade or so”, Hausfather said. This is “what we are now seeing after the 2015/2016 super El Nino event”. Whenever there is a trend with variability like global temperatures, “you can isolate cherry-picked intervals and claim that something has paused or accelerated, but this is not appropriate”, Colose said. Temperature data for the past eight years do not reflect long-term trends, experts say, and longer-term data clearly show a continuing rise in overall global temperatures.

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