heat

The interaction between wildfires and extreme high temperatures. Credit: Yihan HU Wildfires are events that can have significant impacts on ecosystems and human society. In the context of global warming, there has been a notable surge in the frequency and ferocity of wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere over recent years. In 2023, Canada experienced an unprecedented wildfire event, with CO2 emissions increasing by 527.1% over…

Global temperatures "smashed" heat records last year, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss, the United Nations said Tuesday – warning 2024 was likely to be even hotter. The annual State of the Climate report by the UN weather and climate agency confirmed preliminary data showing 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded. And last year capped off "the warmest 10-year period on record", the World Meteorological Organization said, with even hotter temperatures expected. "There is a high…

Sea surface temperature anomalies off the coast of eastern Australia on March 4, 2024, based on data from the Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution Sea Surface Temperature) project.Weeks of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures caused extensive bleaching in the world’s largest coral reef system.Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has been hit by widespread coral bleaching caused by heat stress, government officials confirmed on March 8, 2024. This is the fifth mass bleaching of the reef since 2016.Aerial surveys of over 300 reefs…

The study shows that heat days are underestimated by up to 30 percent on average over 30 years if the error is not corrected—in other words, only 70 percent of the actual temperature extremes are detected in some regions. Credit: Lukas Brunner Many studies on the climate crisis focus on researching temperature extremes on a global scale. Scientists at the University of Vienna have now uncovered an error in an established…

Rivian R2 (Source: Rivian) Rivian’s newly-unveiled R2 will make use of a heat pump to help with efficiency in cold weather, which should be a boon to those in the Northern parts of North America, and in Europe. We learned a lot about the R2 at its unveiling last week, and learned even more secrets about the car while hanging around after the event. But it turns out that the vehicle still has some secrets to tell. Today, one twitter user asked Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe whether the R2 would…

As Extreme Heat and Smoke Threaten U.S. Farmworkers, Federal Health Leaders Evaluate ProtectionsLeaders of the Department of Health and Human Services will meet throughout the spring and summer to help protect farm laborers from heat and wildfire smokeBy Ariel Wittenberg & E&E NewsHealth and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra described the risks faced by his father, a farmworker in California. Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | A group of the nation’s health experts will…

Impact of spring and summer irrigation on extreme heat wave events. Modeled temperature and event length anomalies for no irrigation (a, d), both spring and summer irrigation (b, e) and solely spring irrigation (c, f). Credit: Geophysical Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2023GL107094 Heat waves are becoming more extreme as climate change exacerbates, with susceptible locations experiencing more frequent, prolonged and…

Credit: Phillip Capper via Wikimedia commons A thermometer dipped in a bucket of sea water on New Year's Day in 1967 began a unique record that shows the dramatic intensification of warming in the Hauraki Gulf. Sea-surface readings at the Leigh Marine Laboratory north of Auckland since that time indicate the "unprecedented nature of recent marine…

A bill that would provide state tax rebates to draw data centers to Colorado has run into opposition from critics who warn of the facilities’ large demands for energy and water and potentially higher costs for other electric customers. The legislation would offer state sales and use tax rebates for construction materials and equipment starting in 2026. Senate Bill 24-085 declares that investing in projects such as data centers “is crucial for the economy of the future” and Colorado, considered a growing high-tech hub, is…

Window ACs are easy to install in homes and offices, and they ensure apt cooling even during the peak summer days. These appliances have evolved to be more than just about cooling. You can get multiple features and functionalities to suit your cooling needs. The hassle of going over options to choose the right window AC is real. To keep that hassle at bay, we have curated a list of the best deals on Window ACs on Amazon. Read our reviews and analysis of every product to make a wise decision before your next…