Climate Point: Global heat record set again and again
We know. It's summer. It's hot.
But it's really, really hot. Across the globe. A new high global temperature record was set on Monday, on Tuesday and again on Wednesday.
Welcome to Climate Point, your weekly guide to climate, energy and environment news. I'm Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national reporter on Paste BN's climate, weather and environment team.
It's entirely likely that the global average temperature record will be broken again over the news few weeks, Robert Rohde, lead scientist for Berkeley Earth, wrote on Twitter this week. "Global warming is leading us into an unfamiliar world," he said.
The NOAA data, graphed by the University of Maine's Climate Reanalyzer, shows the 62.9 degree global average on Tuesday was the warmest on records dating back to 1979. However, Rohde pointed out a broad array of other data points allow scientists to look back farther into the instrumental measurement history and make comparisons.
With unusually warm temperatures blanketing 40% of the world's oceans, summer in the northern hemisphere and a strengthening El Niño, there's little escape from the heat.
Already this summer deadly heat, heat domes and wildfires have affected tens of millions of Americans. Experts say there's no relief in sight for the smoke from Canadian wildfires, which could periodically cause problems the rest of the summer.
Federal forecasters say above-normal temperatures are expected throughout a majority of the U.S. during July, August and September, writes Doyle Rice, one of Paste BN's weather, climate and science writers.
Keith Matheny at the Detroit Free Press did a deeper dive on those Canadian wildfires and what the future holds.
With a hot summer, fueled by an El Niño and global climate change, we can't stress this enough: Take precautions if you're going to be outside.
Deadly heat
In recent weeks, a teenager died while hiking with family in the heat at Big Bend National Park, a postal worker died while delivering mail and a man died while driving through Death Valley.
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related event in the United States, writes Adrianna Rodriguez, a national reporter with Paste BN. It kills more people than tornadoes or hurricanes – combined.
Federal agencies report about 700 Americans die each year from extreme heat, but some studies suggest it could be more than twice that. Part of what makes a heat wave so dangerous is lack of awareness, experts say.
These safety tips can help you address extreme heat.
Heat isn't the only summer hazard of course. This summer has seen a spike in rip current drownings in the Florida Panhandle and tornado activity is up as well.
Wind energy in the headlines
In the Northeast, the past couple of weeks have seen a number of developments on the wind energy front.
- In Rhode Island, a state engineer accused a joint venture of making false statements regarding its $5 billion proposal to install turbines south of Martha's Vineyard.
- NOAA is taking public comment during an evaluation of an offshore wind project's environmental impacts south of Martha's Vineyard, where the electricity would be destined for Connecticut.
- Federal officials approved New Jersey's first offshore wind energy project, over the objections of some locals who are concerned about the impacts to the local economy, fishing and the environment. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the announcement marked a "pivotal inflection point" in the state's transition toward carbon-free power.
- Legislators in New Jersey heard testimony on a bill to extend tax credits to a company developing offshore wind facilities.
Around the nation
Birdwatchers are braving the heat in Southwest Florida to get a look at a rare tern, Southeastern coastal cities saw high tides this week and sea lions are getting sick off Santa Barbara.
For stories requiring a subscription, sign up and get access to all eNewspapers in the Paste BN network. If someone forwarded you this email and you'd like to receive Climate Point in your inbox for free once a week, sign up here.