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Irish Times
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Forty degree heatwaves are the ‘new norm'. Now we see what's coming for Ireland
A cool Ireland was on the right side of an oppressive ' heat dome ' this week, while tennis fans in Wimbledon were at its edge, enduring the hottest opening days on record, with temperatures of more than 34 degrees. Players resorted to ice packs on heads and fans attempted to create shade with hats, umbrellas, towels and clothing. Tournament stewards used 'shade mapping' to guide spectators to cooler areas. Just across the English Channel and closer to its core, it was a different cauldron, with oven-like temperatures. Much of continental Europe from northern Germany to the Mediterranean experienced 40 degrees plus. Heat maps were a blanket of red. Italy's Jasmine Paolini puts ice on her head during a break in play at Wimbledon this week. Photograph:The heat dome phenomenon had returned with vengeance and earlier in the summer than before; enough to make unsurprised climate scientists consider whether this was yet another manifestation of our increasingly destabilised climate . It resulted in an area of high-pressure air becoming stuck over Europe. Atmospheric dynamics around it, in the jet stream enveloping Earth, blocked it from moving with low-pressure systems on either side. It was the meteorological equivalent of putting a lid on a boiling pot. In the heat dome scenario, hot air heats up and compresses to form a 'dome'. This intensifies heat and prevents cloud formation, allowing even more radiation from the sun to hit the ground below. Amplification of those atmospheric waves not only drives heatwaves but is also associated with wildfires and flash floods. READ MORE A 'dual heat dome' is the simultaneous occurrence of two distinct dome events, as happened in Europe and North America in recent weeks, transforming much of the northern hemisphere into a sweltering hothouse. There is evidence to suggest this scenario is becoming more common and more intense. Natural weather can be varied and unpredictable, but Met Éireann professor of data science for climate and weather at UCD, Andrew Parnell, says 'extremely warm' weather is becoming more normal. Critically, the balance is being tipped from 'unusual' towards 'way too hot'. And Ireland should not fall into the trap of believing it's 'over there', a phenomenon affecting only sun holidays locations. 'We are seeing this [warming trend] in Ireland if you look at temperature data,' he says. People cool off in the Trocadero Fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Wednesday. Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images There is no physical reason why a dome will not sit on this country at some point. Only luck on this occasion meant it was parked on mainland Europe, from where it moved slowly east. We might not be so lucky next time. [ Ireland experiences fourth hottest June on record Opens in new window ] The severity of temperatures and the early timing of the current heatwave tally with how climate change is known to affect heatwaves. We don't need yet more attribution studies to state this. As a result of human-induced climate change, heat is becoming more frequent and intense, and many scientists predict this 'silent killer' will become the most challenging aspect of accelerating global warming. Europe is already 2 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times and warming about twice as fast as the global average. This is due to its latitude; its many 'concrete cities' and warming ocean currents, Parnell notes. Global average increases of 0.1 degrees disguise temperature jumps occurring at particular locations across the planet. Europe – and this includes Ireland – is vulnerable due to a combination of factors: extremely warm seas off the northwest Atlantic, record levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and unrelenting burning of fossil fuels causing carbon pollution that recognises no borders. The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing record highs, increasing the risk of Valencia-like autumnal storms . We may not have to suffer the worst heat domes but Ireland will not avoid hotter summers and more prolonged droughts. Extreme flooding is probably the worst form of extreme weather event exacerbated by climate disruption facing us. Parnell's research is increasingly focused on lack of preparedness for the health effects of extreme weather, and from heat in particular, which goes 'beyond obvious things like skin cancer'. [ Sunscreen: All you need to know to pick the best SPF for your face, scalp and body Opens in new window ] There is the heightened risk of many more cardiovascular strokes. Separately, prolonged heat can overwhelm the body's ability to regulate temperature, leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heatstroke. Older people are especially vulnerable. A woman sunbathes on the beach on the banks of the Bavarian lake Chiemsee in southern Germany amid this week's heatwave. Photograph: Michaela Stache/AFP via Getty Images Mental health complications linked to sleep disruption are perhaps the least talked about health impact. Extreme heat can exacerbate existing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in addition to physical symptoms. All these factors can combine to overwhelm a health system. Environmental threats are also likely to have cascading impacts on water availability, transport links and the usability of certain buildings. Summer temperatures frequently exceeding 40 degrees are already a reality for southern Europe stretching from Spain to Turkey. This is undermining tourism, driving tourists to travel in offpeak seasons, much like the way the Middle East manages its tourism. It is forcing a rethink on large outdoor events. Working outside in daytime hours is becoming impossible. Agriculture is increasingly hampered, particularly growth of fruit and vegetables and wine production. Parnell says Ireland needs to plan, beginning by putting in place robust early-warning systems, whether the threats are extreme floods or heatwaves, including setting out likely demands on health services. We will have to learn lessons from what has become necessary in Europe, including special shaded structures and cooling zones. With surging heat-related 'excess deaths' inevitable in coming decades, 'at least Ireland has the opportunity to plan for that ... We know this is coming. We know exactly what's going to happen. We can do a lot more on preparedness.' Catastrophic consequences from a raging climate crisis are evident in many parts of Earth. Yet the human response this week seemed little more than complaining about searing heat. Undaunted, tourists in Crete swam in the sea as wildfires raged in the hills behind them . It coincided with countries gathered at a pre-Cop30 meeting yet again ducking their obligations. Some observers contend they are abandoning scaled-up ambition – an emergency response – and veering towards paralysis that will become obvious when they gather in Brazil next November. Parnell fears it will take some horrible tragedy to provoke people and countries to respond adequately – the destruction of a large part of a country or huge loss of life: 'It's terrible to think this might be what forces us to do what we know we have to do.'
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Data Crucial to Hurricane Forecasts Will Continue, but for One Month Only
The Department of Defense on Monday reversed course, temporarily, on canceling the availability of satellite data that is key to monitoring hurricane movements and structures. The data will now be available to hurricane forecasters through July 31, rather than the previous June 30 deadline. The National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration announced last week that data from three satellites jointly run by NOAA and the Defense Department would become unavailable for researchers and forecasters no later than June 30. 'Recent service changes' was the only explanation provided. An announcement from NOAA on Monday cites a 'significant cybersecurity risk' as the reason for taking the data offline. The decision to continue supplying the data came in response to a request from a NASA scientist, according to the update. Meteorologists and other climate scientists responded to the original announcement with confusion and dismay. Losing access to the data would immediately degrade the quality of hurricane forecasts, increasing risk to life and property in the United States and elsewhere, experts said. The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to questions about the reason for the data cancellation, the reason for the delay or the reason for the timeline. NOAA declined to comment. 'The extension of this crucial data through July by direct NASA order speaks to how blindsided government forecasters were by the DoD's sudden decision to terminate the data,' said Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert who has worked at the National Hurricane Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 'It unfortunately doesn't get us to the peak months of hurricane season in August, September and October when our strongest hurricanes typically form and rapid intensification is most common,' he said. Hurricanes forecasts would not be the only important climate research affected. The canceled data services are critical for researchers studying changes in sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic since the 1970s, said Sharon Stammerjohn, a senior research associate at the University of Colorado Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. Sea ice in the Earth's polar regions melts in the summer and refreezes in the winter, helping the planet cool down by reflecting solar energy into space. At the planet warms, satellite imagery allows scientists to track the seasonal decline of sea ice. 'Without that record, especially for the Antarctic, because it's so remote, we wouldn't be able to observe these changes that are so critical to our global climate,' Dr. Stammerjohn said. 'Most people are much more aware of hurricanes than they are of polar sea ice.'While other satellite products, including ones maintained by the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, may be able to fill the gap, Dr. Stammerjohn said, there are challenges in accounting for variations in the data, such as differently-calibrated sensors and resolutions.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning over concerning phenomenon observed in Antarctica: 'Understanding their future patterns is crucial'
A new study forecasts that the frequency of atmospheric rivers in Antarctica will increase dramatically while the precipitation they produce skyrockets. Atmospheric rivers are like rivers in the sky, long and narrow regions of the atmosphere that can carry the equivalent of "the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Researchers in Antarctica used high-resolution climate models to project how the frequency of these atmospheric firehoses and the amount of precipitation they produce will change as our world continues to warm. "This is the first study to consider how these extreme weather events in Antarctica might change in response to human-induced warming this century," climate scientist Michelle Maclennan told "Because atmospheric rivers deliver massive precipitation to Antarctica and significantly impact snowfall variability, understanding their future patterns is crucial to projecting Antarctica's contribution to sea-level rise." A study conducted by an international team of scientists yielded some startling results. The forecast based on their findings is "a doubling of atmospheric river frequencies and 2.5-time increase in precipitation from 2066-2100 under present-day thresholds for atmospheric river detection." The study's authors say their research shows that projections depend heavily on future emissions of heat-trapping gases and the methods used to identify atmospheric rivers in climate models. Antarctica makes up a large portion of Earth's cryosphere, the part of the planet where water exists in solid form, including ice and snow. "The cryosphere, the white landscapes, is the canary in the coal mine of climate and biodiversity crises due to human pressures including greenhouse gas emissions," noted Antje Boetius, the director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, at the One Planet - Polar Summit held in Paris in November 2023. Our warming world is intensifying Earth's water cycle and helping supercharge extreme weather events. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, which atmospheric rivers can unleash. It is estimated that Antarctica is warming nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world. The region's melting ice sheets and glaciers are contributing to sea-level rise. Since atmospheric rivers can hold huge volumes of moisture, any future changes to them will have a major impact on how much water levels rise. An important report on the state of the climate, released last year, declared that sea levels reached a record high in 2023, as ocean temperatures also hit record highs. A recent report from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science warns of increasing threats to U.S. coastal cities with an expected acceleration of sea-level rise. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Cooling off our planet is essential to tempering any future raging atmospheric rivers. This will require a large-scale transition away from dirty energy sources to renewable options. Recent developments in the renewable energy sector offer hope that we can scale up this shift. A Swedish company has launched a huge wave energy project in the United Kingdom designed to harness energy hidden within our oceans. A seven-nation partnership, which includes the U.S., has joined forces to build a 60-foot-tall superconducting magnet that will be part of a vital fusion experiment in France, with the potential to revolutionize energy production. Learning about critical climate issues and then sharing that information with friends and family can help raise awareness about the need to fight for the future of our planet. Being an advocate for change at work by discussing these issues with supervisors and coworkers can also have a significant impact. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Washington Post
19-06-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
Want to plant trees to offset fossil fuels? You'd need all of North and Central America, study finds
Planting trees has plenty of benefits, but this popular carbon-removal method alone can't possibly counteract the planet-warming emissions caused by the world's largest fossil-fuel companies. To do that, trees would have to cover the entire land mass of North and Central America, according to a study out Thursday. Many respected climate scientists and institutions say removing carbon emissions — not just reducing them — is essential to tackling climate change. And trees remove carbon simply by 'breathing.' But crunching the numbers, researchers found that the trees' collective ability to remove carbon through photosynthesis can't stand up to the potential emissions from the fossil fuel reserves of the 200 largest oil, gas and coal fuel companies — there's not enough available land on Earth to feasibly accomplish that.
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Here's how the Indian Ocean Dipole works
You're probably familiar with El Nino, but there's another climate driver in town, and researchers say it has an even more powerful impact on Australia.
