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☆ Hurricanes are being turbocharged by climate change. This season is proof
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Record-breaking ocean temperatures, fueled by planet-warming pollution, have turbocharged dozens of Atlantic hurricanes over the last few years, making them more potent and dangerous by increasing their wind speeds. Every hurricane in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was made stronger than it otherwise would have been without human-caused climate change, according to analysis from nonprofit climate research group Climate Central. Wind speeds of the 11 hurricanes were increased by 9 to 28 mph by water that was up to 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer because of climate change. Nine of this season’s 11 hurricanes rapidly intensified and climbed up the hurricane category scale due to climate change-driven ocean heat. Climate Central researchers also found that human-caused climate change made exceptionally warm ocean temperatures that fueled Milton’s explosion 400 to 800 times more likely.

Persons: ”, Daniel Gilford, Hurricane Milton, Milton wouldn’t, Chandan Khanna, Debby, Oscar, Jim Kossin, Kossin, he’s Organizations: CNN, Climate, Climate Central, Simpson, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Water, Hurricanes, Hurricane, National Hurricane Center . Climate, Getty, NOAA Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane, Siesta Key, Florida

☆ Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji has yet to see snow this winter, breaking a 130-year record
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —November is just a few days away, but Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji remains snowless, marking the latest date without a snowcap since records began 130 years ago. The lack of snow as of October 29, beats the previous record of October 26, set in 1955 and 2016, he said. This aerial view shows climbers lining up to take a photo on the Kengamine summit of Mount Fuji on August 10, 2024. The unusual October heat Japan experienced was made three times more likely because of the climate crisis, Climate Central found. Straddling Japan’s Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, the 3,776-meter Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an icon of Japan.

Persons: Snowcaps, Shinichi Yanagi, Stringer Organizations: CNN, Mount, Fuji, NHK, Meteorological Office, Meteorological Agency, Mount Fuji, Kyodo, Climate, Northern, UNESCO Locations: Kofu, Japan, Mount, Central, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, overtourism

Phoenix on Tuesday snapped a streak of 21 straight days of record-breaking highs. Heat waves are expected to start earlier in the year and last later as a result of climate change, but Phoenix's streak still surprised scientists. The heat is finally expected to break heading into the weekend, as a cold front brings cooler conditions. The city on Tuesday finally snapped a streak of 21 straight days of record-breaking daily high temperatures. This summer was already the hottest on record in Phoenix, and 2024 is likely to end up as the warmest year in the city's recorded history.

Persons: ”, Jennifer Brady, Phoenix Organizations: Phoenix, Climate Central, National Weather Service Locations: Arizona , Nevada, New Mexico, Phoenix, New Jersey

The Summary Forecasts for hurricanes Helene and Milton were highly accurate. Nearly five days before Hurricane Milton hit Florida, National Hurricane Center forecasters predicted its track within just 12 miles of where the storm later made landfall. And yet, at a time when hurricane forecasts are at their most accurate, some meteorologists say they’ve never faced so much skepticism, hatred and conspiracy-minded pushback. They take it personally.”Hurricane forecasts have become more accurateHurricane forecasts have improved dramatically over the past 50 years. The National Hurricane Center publishes data each year about how its forecasts have aligned with reality, and the trend shows a decline in track errors since the 1970s.

Persons: Helene, Milton, ”, John Morales, they’ve, They’ve, “, there’s, Matthew Cappucci, ” Cappucci, Cappucci, Bill Gates, Bradley Panovich, “ It’s, Kim Klockow McClain, Shel Winkley, ” Winkley, Hurricane Milton “ Organizations: Hurricane Milton, National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NBC, MyRadar, Washington Post, Harvard, Climate, NOAA Locations: Florida, North Carolina, Appalachia, Louisiana, Charlotte , North Carolina, Hurricane

CNN —Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, making landfall as a powerful Category 3 storm. The intense hurricane spawned tornadoes, dumped rain across much of the state, left millions without power and claimed at least 12 lives, including five people in St. Lucie County. Milton is the third hurricane to hit Florida this year — which has only happened during five other hurricane seasons since 1871. Many areas in Florida are also recovering from the aftermath of a Milton-spurred torrent “supercharged” tornadoes, according to National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan. Milton was the fifth hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year, joining Category 1 Beryl, Category 1 Debby, Category 2 Francine and Category 4 Helene.

Persons: Hurricane Milton, Lucie County, Helene, Deanne Criswell, Michael Brennan, “ We’ve, Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin, CNN’s Jim Acosta, “, I’ve, Hurricane Irma, Milton, Beryl, Debby, Francine Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, NASA, Climate, FEMA, National Hurricane Center, National Weather Services Locations: Coast, St, Lucie, Siesta, Milton, Florida, Gulf, Mexico, St . Petersburg, Hillsborough, Lucie County, Port St, Tampa Bay , Melbourne, Miami, Hurricane, Hardee, Highlands, Tampa, Petersburg, Sarasota, United States

☆ The science of how Hurricane Milton became such a monster
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The Summary Hurricane Milton intensified at one of the fastest rates in recorded history. At nearly every turn, Hurricane Milton has offered surprises. Milton is the strongest Gulf of Mexico hurricane since Hurricane Rita in 2005. However, Lin said, “that doesn’t make it any less dangerous.”Even with slower winds, Milton is expected to remain a major hurricane until landfall Wednesday night. “That would tie 2024 with 2005 and 2020 for 2nd most Gulf hurricane landfalls on record, trailing only 1886,” meteorologist Philip Klotzbach wrote on X.

Persons: Hurricane Milton, Milton, Campeche —, Chris Slocum, ” Slocum, ”, John Morales, Karthik Balaguru, Jonathan Lin, Milton “, Rita, Slocum, ” Lin, Milton “ wobbled, Lin, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Helene —, —, Helene, Philip Klotzbach Organizations: Hurricane, Hurricanes, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration’s, NBC South, Climate Central, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Cornell University, National Hurricane Center, Tampa Bay, Atlantic Locations: Gulf, Mexico, Hurricane, Tampa Bay, Africa’s, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Campeche, NBC South Florida, Milton, Tampa, Florida’s

☆ Hurricane Helene was wetter and windier due to climate change, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The high sea surface temperatures that helped both storms intensify were 200 to 500 times more likely because of climate change, the report found. As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida’s west coast, a new report estimates how much more intense Hurricane Helene’s winds and rain were because of climate change. The sea surface temperatures that propelled Helene and Milton were 200 to 500 times more likely because of climate change, the report found. They found that coastal rainfall totals that high were 40% more likely because of climate change and that inland totals that high were 70% more likely because of climate change. Damaged structures in downtown Chimney Rock, N.C., after the passage of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 2.

Persons: Milton, Friederike Otto, Hurricane, Hurricane Milton, Helene, ”, Bernadette Woods Placky, Hurricane Helene, Allison Joyce, Otto Organizations: Imperial College London, Florida NOAA, Climate, Weather, Getty Locations: Hurricane, Gulf, Mexico, Florida, Bend, Florida’s, North Carolina, Tennessee, Appalachia, Chimney, N.C, Milton

☆ Hurricane Helene was supercharged by ultra-warm water made up to 500 times more likely by global warming, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The exceptionally warm water of the Gulf of Mexico that supercharged deadly Helene last month was made up to 500 times more likely by human-caused climate change, which also ramped up the hurricane’s wind and rain, according to a new scientific analysis. These ultra-warm ocean temperatures were made between 200 and 500 times more likely by climate change, driven by humans burning fossil fuels, according to the World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists that calculates the role of climate change in extreme weather events using real world data and climate models. Hurricanes as intense as Helene are now about 2.5 times more likely in the region, the study found. Baker Jarvis, a resident of Keaton Beach, Florida, works to recover his belongings from his home after Hurricane Helene on September 29, 2024. Rapid intensification, when a hurricane’s wind speed increases by at least 35 mph within 24 hours, has now become more common due to climate change.

Persons: Helene, Ben Clarke, ” Clarke, Milton, Helene . Baker Jarvis, Hurricane Helene, Octavio Jones, ”, Bernadette Woods Placky, Hurricane Milton, “ Helene, Gabriel Vecchi, Friederike Otto, ” Otto Organizations: CNN, Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute, Hurricanes, Reuters, Climate, Hurricane, geosciences, Princeton University, WWA, Imperial College London Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Southern, Gulf, Keaton Beach , Florida, Bend, North Carolina

Hurricane Milton’s last 36 hours have been nothing short of astonishing, as it strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just over a day. The storm’s blisteringly fast evolution is part of a trend of rapidly intensifying storms fueled by climate change. The term “rapid intensification” describes an increase in sustained wind speeds of at least 35 mph over a 24-hour period, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Milton has obliterated that minimum, undergoing “extreme rapid intensification”: Its maximum sustained wind speed increased by 90 mph in roughly 25 hours, according to the nonprofit research group Climate Central. “Warming oceans, due to human-caused climate change, are fueling stronger tropical cyclones,” Climate Central posted Monday on X.

Persons: National Hurricane Center . Hurricane Milton Organizations: Milton’s, National Hurricane Center . Hurricane, Climate, Central

☆ In California, heat and dry conditions make arson a more potent threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

But as climate change leads temperatures to rise, fire seasons to grow longer and drought conditions to become more intense, intentionally set fires have more opportunity to take off and grow. Given that, he said, “an arrest can have a big payoff.”Prestemon has studied wildfire arson events in Florida, Spain and other locations. Wildfire arson isn’t well studied, but researchers in the U.S., Europe and Australia have narrowed down the profile of typical perpetrators. Cal Fire has counted between 182 and 386 arson fires each year since 2014, with rates roughly consistent relative to the number of overall fires. Investigators were able to link McGlover’s plausible movements that day to several fires, Fox said.

Persons: Muschetto, ”, ” Muschetto, Jeffrey Prestemon, “ They’re, ” Prestemon, “, Prestemon, they’re, Janet Stanley, can’t, Daniel Fox, ” Fox, That’s, it’s, Fox, Brandon McGlover, McGlover, Bezos, ” Andrea Blaylock sifts, Nic Coury, Mike Ramsey, Stout Organizations: Cal Fire, Climate, National Weather Service, U.S, U.S . Forest Service’s, Research, University of Melbourne, “, Fox, Rockefeller, AP Stout Locations: California, Los Angeles, U.S ., North Carolina, Florida, Spain, U.S, Europe, Australia, ”, Riverside County, Idyllwild , California, Forest, Calif, Butte County

A hurricane watch and warnings of storm surges up to 15 feet high were issued Tuesday for almost all of Florida's western coastline as a potential tropical storm moves across the Caribbean Sea and towards the Gulf Coast. The hurricane watch extends from Indian Pass in north-west Florida near Panama City, down to Englewood, and includes Tampa Bay. Hurricane and tropical storm watches are now in effect for the entire western coast of the Sunshine State. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible, and is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated onslaught of tropical-storm-force winds and conditions. Outside of the U.S., a hurricane watch is also in effect for parts of eastern Mexico from Cabo Catoche to Tulum and Pinar del Río in Cuba.

Persons: Helene, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Floridians, Beryl, Debby, Francine Organizations: Grand Cayman, National Hurricane Center, NHC, Sunshine State, Lower, Florida Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Guard, Florida State Guard, Atmospheric Administration, Climate Central, Northern, Florida Climate Center Locations: Gulf Coast, Florida, Panama City, Englewood, Tampa, Grand, Mexico, Flamingo, Walton, Bay, Bonita Beach, Lower Florida Keys, U.S, Cabo Catoche, Tulum, Pinar del Río, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Tallahassee, Gulfport, Henrico County, Bend, Caribbean, Northern Caribbean, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, Texas, Florida’s Big Bend, South Carolina, Louisiana

☆ Nights in Las Vegas Are Becoming Dangerously Hot
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Ronda Kaysen | Aatish Bhatia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

This June and July, nights in Las Vegas stayed above 79 degrees for all but seven days. And hot nights are something more people are experiencing: No American major metro area has grown as much as Las Vegas has over the last three decades. Even after the sun set in Las Vegas in June and July, temperatures routinely remained in the 80s and 90s. Populations have doubled or more over a generation, with the number of abnormally hot nights rising at similar rates. A growing dangerLas Vegas metro 1984 Urban Core This was the Las Vegas metro in 1984.

Persons: ”, Matt Woods, —, Bridget Bennett, Ariel Choinard, “ You’re, Ms, Choinard, Anita Swogger, Tristan, Chima Cyril Hampo, Mr, Swogger, Tollis, Yanci, Yanci Hill, Steffen Lehmann, Blanca Solis, Solis, Richard Kettler, Solis’s, “ Organizations: Vegas, Las Vegas, National Weather Service, The New York Times, Southern, Resilience, Desert Research Institute, Southern Nevada Health, Duke University, U.S ., Atlanta, National Weather, Major metros, Las, Regional Transportation Commission, Drexel University, Weather Service, University of Nevada Locations: United States, Las Vegas, Vegas, Southern Nevada, Clark County, Austin , Texas, Raleigh, N.C, Orlando, Fla, Austin, Phoenix, … Las Vegas Austin , Texas Raleigh, Phoenix Atlanta, Nevada, Arizona, East Las Vegas, Asia, Henderson, Stewart, Las

☆ New heat wave to hit West, Plains and South, adding to an already blistering summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Dennis Romero | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Summer 2024 could be remembered not just for its historic temperatures, but for its successive heat waves with unusual geographic reach. More than 36 million Americans were under advisories, watches or warnings for dangerous and excessive heat Saturday night, according to National Weather Service data. The Gulf Coast and the South were also in for triple-digit highs for much of the week, the weather service said. "The prolonged nature of the heat will increase the risk of heat-related illness," it said in warning that much of the West would experience dangerous heat next week. "The combination of high temperatures increasing into the lower 100s along with high humidity will result in major to extreme" risk for heat-related illness, the weather service said.

Organizations: Federal, National Weather Service, Northern Rockies Locations: Pacific Northwest, Montana , North Dakota , Wyoming, South Dakota , Nebraska , Colorado , Kansas, New Mexico , Oklahoma, Texas, Gulf, Louisiana, Mississippi, West, Great Basin, Southeastern California, Northern Plains, Northern, Rocky, Southern California, Las Vegas , Nevada, Imperial, Arizona, El Centro, United States

☆ Live Updates: Beryl Expected to Hit Texas as a Hurricane
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Isabelle Taft | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Beryl was forecast to bring winds of up to 110 miles per hour to parts of southeast Texas by early Monday. Texans are unusually familiar with power outages: The state had more weather-related power outages from 2000 to 2021 than any other, according to the advocacy organization Climate Central. In 2008, Hurricane Ike left two million customers across eastern Texas without power for three days after the storm. Hurricane Rita, in 2005, also caused widespread power outages lasting as long as seven days in some Texas counties. Texas officials, electricity companies and individuals were all thinking about the grid as Beryl churned through the Gulf of Mexico.

Persons: Nim Kidd, Beryl, Hurricane Ike, Hurricane Harvey, Ike, Harvey, Hurricane Rita, Gov, Dan Patrick, Thomas Muñoz, Muñoz, Robert DeShazo, “, ” Organizations: Texans, Texas Division, Emergency Management, Monday, Climate Central, Public, Commission, Energy, AEP Texas, Facebook, Corpus Christi Locations: Austin, Texas, Louisiana, Houston, U.S, Hurricane, Gulf of Mexico, South, West Texas, Ohio, Victoria, Rio Grande Valley

☆ Heat waves: Here’s why your AC can’t save you anymore
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Then came the heat wave. But it is also a lifeline against increasingly brutal heat, the deadliest type of extreme weather. It allows people to live in places where temperatures push close to the limits of survivability and where extreme heat persists even at night. And many electrical grids are being pushed to a breaking point due to increasingly frequent extreme weather and soaring demand for cooling. Heat can affect vital organs and cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death.

Persons: Ida, ”, Jen Brady, Michael Webber, Webber, Brian Stone Jr, Hurricane Ida, Leah Millis, ” Webber, ” Stone, Stone, Kate Gallego, ” Gallego, it’s, Mario Tama, Central’s Brady, —, Ian, “ Organizations: CNN, Climate Central, Climate, University of Texas, Georgia Institute of Technology, “, Service, Authorities, Arizona Public Service, Babcock Locations: Louisiana, New Orleans, Austin, California, Pacific Northwest, Europe, Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, New Orleans , Louisiana, Hurricane, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix, Phoenix , Arizona, Florida

☆ Well Beyond the U.S., Heat and Climate Extremes Are Hitting Billions
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

All have died in blistering heat in recent weeks around the world, a harrowing reminder of the global dangers of extreme weather as a severe heat wave bears down on more than 70 million Americans this week. Dozens of cities in Mexico broke heat records in May and June, killing more than 100 people. Greece is bracing for wildfires this week, right after back-to-back heat waves killed several tourists. Extreme heat killed an estimated 489,000 people annually between 2000 and 2019, according to the World Meteorological Organization, making heat the deadliest of all extreme weather events. “Climate change may also drive food and water shortages and in turn civil unrest, and mass migration,” the report said.

Organizations: Pilgrims, Associated Press, Climate Central, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Mexico, India, Delhi, Greece, Bamako, Mali

☆ The upcoming solar eclipse will cause shallow, cumulus clouds to disappear. Researchers explain why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Ayurella Horn-Muller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

That’s at least what scientists expect to take place in swaths of Mexico, Canada and the United States during April 8’s total solar eclipse. They discovered that cumulus clouds dissipate during eclipses because of the relationship between solar radiation and the formation processes of the clouds. Shallow cumulus clouds, in particular, serve a critical function. But what exactly shallow cumulus clouds’ role is when it comes to the rapidly warming climate remains a long-standing subject of uncertainty in the scientific community. De Roode hopes those across North America gearing up for the next solar eclipse remember to keep an eye out for any vanishing low-lying cumulus clouds.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Victor Trees, Jake Gristey, Gristey, “, Kevin Knupp, Knupp, Stephan de Roode, de Roode, ” de Roode, ’ Gristey, De Roode, Ayurella, Muller Organizations: CNN, Environment, geoscience, Delft University of Technology, cumulus, Cooperative Institute for Research, Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Alabama, Climate Locations: Mexico, Canada, United States, Netherlands, Africa, Huntsville, North America, Axios

☆ Cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, have hit ‘peak bloom,’ park service announces
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Aileen Graef | Elisa Raffa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The cherry blossoms lining the National Mall in Washington, DC, have hit “peak bloom,” bursting open in an early spring display after a warm winter, the National Park Service announced Sunday. “PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! It is the cherry trees’ second-earliest peak bloom on record and follows one of Washington’s warmest recorded winters.

Persons: Yoshino Cherry, Roberto Schmidt Organizations: CNN, National Park Service, NPS, AFP, Getty, Climate Central, Cherry Blossom, West Potomac Locations: Washington ,, Washington , DC, Potomac, West, West Potomac Park

☆ This winter was weirdly warm — and rough for retailers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US just experienced the warmest "meteorological winter" on record, NOAA said last week. It also led to unpredictable consumer demand, causing headaches for retailers and other businesses. For Dick's, warmer weather means that sales skew toward lightweight fleeces rather than pricier down parkas, she said. A retailer in South Dakota surveyed by the Federal Reserve said that even though the warmer weather led to higher foot traffic, sales of winter gear and equipment fell. AdvertisementFrom major complications to minor inconveniences, it's looking like this winter could be a preview of what's to come thanks to the climate crisis.

Persons: Lauren Hobart, Hobart's, didn't, Hal Lawton, Lawton isn't, Raymond James, Lowe's, Marvin Ellison, Bill Boltz, Wisconsin's Organizations: NOAA, Service, National Oceanographic, Atmospheric Administration, Sporting, Tractor, Co, Raymond, Raymond James Institutional Investors, Federal Reserve, Climate Central Locations: NOAA's, East, Midwest, South Dakota

☆ Weirdly Warm Winter Has Climate Fingerprints All Over It, Study Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Somini Sengupta | Delger Erdenesanaa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Winter was weirdly warm for half the world’s population, driven in many places by the burning of fossil fuels, according to an analysis of temperature data from hundreds of locations worldwide. That aligns with the findings published late Wednesday by the European Union’s climate monitoring organization, Copernicus: The world as a whole experienced the hottest February on record, making it the ninth consecutive month of record temperatures. Even more startling, global ocean temperatures in February were at an all-time high for any time of year, according to Copernicus. Taken together, the two sets of figures offer a portrait of an unequivocally warming world that, combined with a natural El Niño weather pattern this year, has made winter unrecognizable in some places. The first analysis, conducted by Climate Central, an independent research group based in New Jersey, found that in several cities in North America, Europe and Asia, not only was winter unusually warm, but climate change played a distinctly recognizable role.

Persons: Copernicus Organizations: Climate Central Locations: New Jersey, North America, Europe, Asia

☆ Scientists want to build 62-mile-long curtains around the 'doomsday glacier' for a $50 billion Hail Mary to save it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

That's what would happen if the Thwaites glacier, nicknamed the 'doomsday glacier,' collapsed. Icebergs from the Ilulissat (Jakobshavn) Glacier melting in Disko Bay, Ilulissat, Greenland. AdvertisementAlready, the melting Thwaites contributes to 4% of global sea level rise. AdvertisementThe River Cam, where University of Cambridge researchers plan to test their Sea Curtains prototype. AdvertisementA race against timeData shows that the Thwaites glacier, and others like it, are melting at unprecedented rates due to climate change.

Persons: Paul Souders, Thwaites, John Moore, Moore, They're, they've, there's, et Organizations: Service, Business, University of Lapland, University of Cambridge, Climate Locations: New York, Miami, New Orleans, Disko Bay, Ilulissat, Greenland, Cam, Norwegian, Amundsen, New York City, Pine

☆ How a warming climate is setting the stage for fast-spreading, destructive wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This fire adds to an ever-lengthening list of rapidly spreading, destructive wildfires in the US and elsewhere. To understand why the Texas fires have been so fierce you have to look to last spring, said Luke Kanclerz, a fire analyst at Texas A&M Forest Service. It only took a short period of warm, dry weather for them to dry out further, providing a carpet for the fire to spread. Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty ImagesScientists are still working to understand what impact, if any, global warming is having on the winds that whip up wildfires. Research has found climate change is fueling the rapid intensification of hurricanes, pushing storms to explode at a deadly pace.

Persons: it’s, Cpl Marc, Andre Leclerc, ”, John Abatzoglou, Luke Kanclerz, Kanclerz, Mike Flannigan, Abatzoglou, “ There’s, ” John Nielsen, Gammon, Yuki Iwamura, Dora, Kaitlyn Trudeau, Trudeau, ” CNN’s Rachel Ramirez Organizations: CNN, United, European Union, Canadian Forces, Reuters, University of California, ”, Texas, M, Service, Texas Panhandle, University of Alberta, Getty, Climate Central, The Locations: United States, Maui, California, Paradise, Canada, Greece, Chile, Mistissini, Quebec, Merced, Texas, Hawaii, West Texas, Gammon , Texas, Lahaina, AFP, Hawaii’s, The Texas, Plains

☆ Last Chance Lake: A ‘soda lake’ in North America could point to the origin of life on Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Ayurella Horn-Muller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Last Chance LakeLast Chance Lake is no more than 1 foot deep. Haas displays a piece of dry-season lake crust taken from Last Chance Lake in September 2022. Last Chance Lake isn’t 4 billion years old — in fact, it’s estimated to have been around less than 10,000 years. Past studies suggest a primordial version of the soda lake may very well have included the substance. “Understanding how life originated on Earth has this importance for our search for life outside of Earth,” Haas told CNN.

Persons: —, David Catling, “, ” Catling, It’s, Sebastian Haas, Haas, David C, isn’t, ”, ” Haas, Catling, Charles Darwin, Matthew Pasek, Pasek, they’re, Woodward Fischer, Ayurella, Muller Organizations: CNN, British Columbia, University of Washington, geosciences, University of South, California Institute of Technology, “, Climate Central Locations: Canadian, British, British Columbia, Chance, Yellowstone, University of South Florida, Axios, ”

☆ The Midwest is having a ‘non-winter.’ El Niño is only partially to blame
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Winter has gone missing across the Midwest and Great Lakes, and time is running out to find it. Dozens of cities are on track for one of the warmest winters on record, making snow and ice rare commodities. A classic El Niño pattern coupled with the effects of a warming climate are to blame for this “non-winter” winter, said Pete Boulay, a climatologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Missing snowfall is even more pronounced in areas surrounding the Great Lakes, especially those that are typically buried by lake-effect snow. The lackluster ice coverage is part of a larger troubling trend across the Great Lakes.

Persons: Pete Boulay, we’ve, ” Boulay, “ I’ve, Boulay, ” Melissa Widhalm Organizations: CNN, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Regional Climate Center, Paul International, Nashville, Twin Cities, Purdue University, NOAA, Climate Central, Climate Locations: Midwest, Great Lakes, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, St, Erie , Pennsylvania, Great, Climate Central

☆ Flowers are evolving in ways that could spell further trouble for the planet’s pollinators
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Ayurella Horn-Muller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The pansies of the past self-fertilized less and attracted far more pollinators than those of the present, according to the study. The changes could constrain the plants’ ability to adapt to future environmental changes and have implications for “all of floral biodiversity” — potentially diminishing flowering plants’ genetic, species and ecosystem variation. “This may increase the pollinator decline and cause a vicious feedback cycle,” study coauthor Pierre-Olivier Cheptou told CNN. Meanwhile, the “resurrected” flowers’ surfaces were 10% bigger, produced 20% more nectar and were frequented by more bumblebees than their modern counterparts. “(The study) is a really important demonstration of the tight linkages between plant and pollinator communities,” LeBuhn said.

Persons: Samson Acoca, ”, Pierre, Olivier Cheptou, Viola arvensis, Pidolle, ” isn’t, Gretchen LeBuhn, LeBuhn, ” LeBuhn, don’t, “, Ayurella, Muller Organizations: CNN, University of Montpellier, French National Centre for Scientific Research, San Francisco State University, Climate Central Locations: France, Paris, heterozygosity, Axios, ”

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